Учёба и рабо́та
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Name common school and work settings, roles, tools, and responsibilities.
- Use the instrumental case to say who someone works as, using быть and стать.
- Use the instrumental case to say what tool or means someone uses to do something.
- Use the instrumental case, with с, to say who someone does something with.
- Compare people, schedules, and workplaces using simple comparative patterns.
- Use common communication verbs, such as звони́ть, писа́ть, and объясня́ть, with their correct case government.
- Connect study or work responsibilities to a change in plans caused by how someone feels, recycled from Chapter 13.
This chapter continues Unit III and introduces new grammar. It also continues to recycle health and well-being vocabulary from Chapter 13, along with earlier material on daily routine, plans, and preferences.
Communication Scenario
Sergéy feels better after his day of rest, and on Monday he is back at work. His colleague Ири́на asks him about his job, his schedule, and how he manages his workload, while Sergéy asks Ири́на about her studies at the university. Along the way, they compare their schedules and talk about how they communicate with their managers and instructors.
- You will learn the language needed to talk about jobs, roles, and responsibilities.
- You will practice describing the tools, people, and methods involved in study and work.
- You will practice comparing schedules and workplaces, and describing how people communicate at school and at work.
Core Vocabulary
The words below support the chapter's central function, discussing study and work. Vocabulary from Chapters 1 through 13 remains fully productive.
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| университе́т, шко́ла, ку́рс | university, school, course |
| студе́нт, студе́нтка, преподава́тель | student (m.), student (f.), instructor |
| уро́к, экза́мен, дома́шнее зада́ние | lesson, exam, homework |
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| рабо́та, о́фис, коллега | work/job, office, colleague |
| нача́льник, дире́ктор, кома́нда | boss, director, team |
| зада́ча, срок, встре́ча | task, deadline, meeting |
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| компью́тер, телефо́н, ру́чка | computer, telephone, pen |
| инжене́р, учи́тель, врач | engineer, teacher, doctor |
| писа́ть, звони́ть, объясня́ть | to write, to call, to explain |
Врач and апте́ка from Chapter 13 return here in a new context, since врач is now presented as a profession rather than only as someone a person calls when unwell.
Pronunciation Focus
No new pronunciation system is introduced in this chapter. Two patterns deserve special attention here, because this chapter uses the instrumental case so often.
- The instrumental singular ending -ом on masculine and neuter nouns, as in инжене́ром, is always stressed on the syllable that already carries the word's stress, not on the ending itself, unless the word belongs to a small stress-shifting group you will meet later.
- Continue reducing unstressed о and а, as in компью́тер and дире́ктор.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
Instrumental for Roles New
Use the instrumental case after быть, to be, and стать, to become, to say what someone's role, job, or profession is.
- Мой оте́ц был инжене́ром.My father was an engineer.instrumental role, past tense of быть
- Я рабо́таю учи́телем.I work as a teacher.instrumental role, рабо́тать + instrumental
- Она́ ста́нет дире́ктором.She will become a director.instrumental role, future of стать
Note the contrast: the present-tense zero copula keeps a role in the nominative, Ири́на студе́нтка, but быть in the past or future, and стать in any tense, take the instrumental.
Instrumental for Means and Tools New
Use the instrumental case, with no preposition, to say what tool, instrument, or means someone uses to do something.
- Она́ звони́т телефо́ном колле́ге.She calls a colleague with her phone.instrumental means, no preposition
- Он объясня́ет уро́к приме́ром.He explains the lesson with an example.instrumental means
Instrumental for Accompaniment New
Use с plus the instrumental case to say who someone does something with.
- Мы гото́вимся к экза́мену с друзья́ми.We are preparing for the exam with friends.с + instrumental, accompaniment
- Серге́й обсужда́ет зада́чу с кома́ндой.Sergéy discusses the task with the team.с + instrumental, accompaniment
This chapter activates the instrumental case in three connected functions, role, with no preposition, means, with no preposition, and accompaniment, with с. Watch carefully for the presence or absence of с, since it changes the meaning from means to accompaniment.
Comparison New
Use бо́лее plus an adjective, or a small set of common comparative forms, together with чем, to compare two people, schedules, or workplaces.
- Моя́ рабо́та бо́лее интере́сная, чем шко́ла.My job is more interesting than school.бо́лее + adjective + чем, comparison
- У Ири́ны бо́льше заня́тий, чем у Серге́я.Irína has more classes than Sergéy.бо́льше + чем, quantity comparison, у + genitive recycled from Chapter 4
- Ири́на рабо́тает ме́ньше, чем Серге́й.Irína works less than Sergéy.ме́ньше + чем, comparison
This chapter activates only бо́лее, бо́льше, and ме́ньше with чем as productive comparison. A fuller comparative and superlative system with short comparative adjectives is not active until later in the volume.
Communication Verbs and Their Case Government New
Learn the case that each communication verb requires. Звони́ть and писа́ть take a dative recipient, recycled from Chapter 13; объясня́ть takes an accusative topic and a dative recipient together; говори́ть с and обсужда́ть с take the instrumental of accompaniment.
- Я звоню́ нача́льнику ка́ждое у́тро.I call my boss every morning.звони́ть + dative, recycled from Chapter 13
- Преподава́тель объясня́ет нам но́вую те́му.The instructor explains a new topic to us.объясня́ть + accusative topic + dative recipient
- Мы обсужда́ем прое́кт с колле́гами.We discuss the project with colleagues.обсужда́ть с + instrumental
Model Dialogue: Кем ты рабо́таешь?
Context: Ири́на and Серге́й talk in the office kitchen on Monday morning. Серге́й feels better after resting on Saturday.
Notice how the dialogue moves between the instrumental for role, инжене́ром, врачо́м, the instrumental for means, компью́тером, the instrumental for accompaniment, с друзья́ми, and comparison, бо́льше заня́тий, чем, all within a natural conversation that also recycles how Серге́й felt in Chapter 13.
Listening Practice
If no audio recording is available, ask a partner, instructor, or text to speech tool to read the passage below aloud, or read it aloud to yourself slowly.
- What does Irína want to become?
- Who does Irína prepare for exams with, and who does she write to?
- What does Sergéy usually work with, and who does he call?
Speaking Practice
Управля́емая пра́ктика — Controlled practice: roles and means
With a partner, take turns asking кем ты рабо́таешь, or кем ты хо́чешь стать, and answering with the instrumental case, such as я рабо́таю учи́телем or я хочу́ стать инжене́ром. Then add one sentence about a tool you use, such as я рабо́таю компью́тером.
Коммуникати́вное зада́ние — Communicative task: comparing schedules
With a partner, compare your schedules using бо́льше, чем or ме́ньше, чем, and describe one person you work or study with, using с plus the instrumental.
Самостоя́тельная пра́ктика — Solo alternative
Record yourself describing your job or your studies, including at least one instrumental role, one instrumental means, one instrumental accompaniment with с, and one comparison with бо́льше or ме́ньше.
Reading Practice
Письмо́ колле́ге — A letter to a colleague
Приве́т! Извини́, что не написа́л ра́ньше, на про́шлой неде́ле мне бы́ло пло́хо, и я лежа́л до́ма не́сколько дней. Тепе́рь мне намно́го лу́чше, и я гото́в рабо́тать над на́шим прое́ктом. Я обы́чно рабо́таю компью́тером у́тром и звоню́ кома́нде по́сле обе́да, е́сли есть вопро́сы. У нас с тобо́й, ка́жется, бо́льше зада́ч, чем у Ири́ны, поэ́тому дава́й обсу́дим план с нача́льником за́втра. Я хочу́ объясни́ть ему́, почему́ нам ну́жно бо́льше вре́мени. Спаси́бо за понима́ние, пока́ я боле́л.
Зада́ние по чте́нию — Reading task:
- Why did the writer not write to the colleague earlier?
- What does the writer usually work with, and who does he call?
- What does the writer want to explain to the boss, and when?
Writing Workshop
Complete the following linked writing tasks in order. This workshop applies the new grammar from this chapter, the instrumental for role, means, and accompaniment, comparison, and communication verbs.
Зада́ние 1 — Complete the sentence: Choose the correct form to complete each sentence.
Зада́ние 2 — A message about work or study: Write eight to ten sentences describing your job or your studies, including at least one instrumental role, one instrumental means, one instrumental accompaniment with с, one comparison, and one communication-verb sentence.
- Review the Core Vocabulary tables above. Confirm the meaning of any role, tool, or workplace word you intend to use.
- Decide on your role and your daily tasks. Choose a job, a course, or a combination of both.
- Draft your description. Include at least one instrumental role, one instrumental means, one instrumental accompaniment with с, one comparison, and one communication-verb sentence.
- Read your description aloud once. Listen for the instrumental endings and for whether с appears before an instrumental accompaniment.
- Check each system against the Grammar and Sentence Patterns section. Confirm that means has no preposition and accompaniment always has с.
Спи́сок прове́рки — Editing checklist:
- The instrumental case is used correctly to describe a role after быть or стать.
- The instrumental case is used correctly, with no preposition, for a tool or means.
- С plus the instrumental case is used correctly for accompaniment.
- At least one comparison with бо́льше, ме́ньше, or бо́лее, plus чем, is used correctly.
- Vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1 through 13 are used correctly where they appear.
Culture and Communication
Across Russian-speaking workplaces, people commonly identify themselves by profession or role rather than by employer, so кем ты рабо́таешь, what do you work as, is a very natural question, while the name of a company is often secondary in casual conversation. Workplace norms, titles, and hierarchy still vary considerably by country, industry, and individual organization, so treat this pattern as a common conversational habit, not a universal rule.
How directly colleagues ask each other for help or explanation can vary by workplace culture, generation, and relationship, echoing the softened advice patterns from Chapter 13. Some colleagues move quickly to a direct request, while others prefer to soften a request with phrases such as е́сли мо́жно, if it's possible. Adjust your directness to the relationship and the setting, not only to the grammar.
Common Mistakes
Error: Saying Она́ хо́чет стать врач instead of Она́ хо́чет стать врачо́м.
Correction: Стать always takes the instrumental for the role someone becomes, unlike the present-tense zero copula: стать врачо́м, not стать врач.
Error: Saying Я пишу́ с ру́чкой instead of Я пишу́ ру́чкой.
Correction: Instrumental means takes no preposition: писа́ть ру́чкой, not писа́ть с ру́чкой. Reserve с plus the instrumental for accompaniment, such as рабо́тать с колле́гой.
Error: Saying У меня́ мно́го заня́тий, чем у тебя́ instead of У меня́ бо́льше заня́тий, чем у тебя́.
Correction: Мно́го means simply "a lot" and does not compare two things. Use бо́льше, more, or ме́ньше, less, together with чем, than, to compare quantities: бо́льше заня́тий, чем у тебя́.
Chapter Review
Instrumental for role
Describes what someone works as or becomes, after быть or стать.
Instrumental for means
Describes the tool or means used to do something, with no preposition.
Instrumental for accompaniment
Describes who someone does something with, using с plus the instrumental.
Comparison and communication verbs
Compares quantities with бо́льше/ме́ньше plus чем, and connects communication verbs to their required case.
Часть A — Понима́ние (Comprehension)
1. Return to the Model Dialogue, and answer these short questions.
- What does Ири́на want to become, and what does Серге́й work as?
- Who does each of them communicate with, and how?
Часть B — Пи́сьменная речь (Writing)
1. Write three sentences describing your job or studies, using the instrumental for role in at least one and the instrumental for means in at least one.
2. Write one sentence comparing your schedule to a friend's schedule.
Часть C — Чте́ние (Reading)
1. Return to the letter to a colleague, and list, in order, what the writer works with, who he calls, and what he wants to explain to the boss.
Часть D — Говоре́ние (Speaking)
1. With a partner, describe your job or studies, and have your partner respond with a comparison and one question using a communication verb.
Practical Performance Task
Chapter 14 Practical Task
Кем ты рабо́таешь: What You Work As
Complete the following connected tasks, in order, applying the new grammar from this chapter along with recycled material from Chapters 1 through 13.
- Read the Model Dialogue and the letter to a colleague. Answer the comprehension questions above before continuing.
- Say what you work as, or what you want to become. Use the instrumental case after рабо́тать, быть, or стать.
- Say what tool or means you use for study or work. Use the instrumental with no preposition.
- Say who you work or study with. Use с plus the instrumental.
- Compare your schedule to a partner's schedule. Use бо́льше, ме́ньше, or бо́лее, plus чем.
- Say who you call, write to, or explain something to. Use a communication verb with its correct case.
- Write your eight to ten sentence message from the Writing Workshop. Apply the editing checklist.
| Criterion | What is assessed |
|---|---|
| Instrumental role accuracy | The learner uses the instrumental case correctly after быть or стать to describe a role. |
| Instrumental means accuracy | The learner uses the instrumental case correctly, with no preposition, for tools or means. |
| Instrumental accompaniment accuracy | The learner uses с plus the instrumental correctly to show who an action is done with. |
| Comparison accuracy | The learner uses бо́льше, ме́ньше, or бо́лее, plus чем, correctly to compare schedules or workplaces. |
| Communication-verb accuracy | The learner uses звони́ть, писа́ть, объясня́ть, or обсужда́ть с correctly with their required case. |
| Connected performance | The learner moves smoothly between describing a role, a means, a companion, and a comparison within one coherent exchange. |
This task builds on the systems activated in this chapter. Only material from Chapters 1 through 14 is required.
Answer Key
Listening — Comprehension
- Irína wants to become a doctor.
- Irína prepares for exams with friends, and she and her friends write to the instructor.
- Sergéy usually works with a computer, and he calls colleagues.
Model Dialogue — Comprehension
- Irína wants to become a doctor; Sergéy works as an engineer.
- Sergéy usually works with a computer and calls colleagues; Irína prepares with friends and writes to her instructor.
Writing
- 1. инжене́ром. 2. врачо́м. 3. компью́тером. 4. с друзья́ми. 5. бо́льше.
- Sample answer: Я рабо́таю инжене́ром в большо́й компа́нии. Я обы́чно рабо́таю компью́тером и звоню́ колле́гам, е́сли есть вопро́сы. Я ча́сто рабо́таю над зада́чами с кома́ндой, а иногда́ обсужда́ю прое́кт с нача́льником. У меня́, ка́жется, бо́льше встреч, чем у мои́х колле́г. Я хочу́ объясни́ть кома́нде но́вый план на э́той неде́ле. Пре́жде я хоте́л стать учи́телем, но тепе́рь я рад, что я инжене́р. По́сле рабо́ты я иногда́ пишу́ отчёт до́ма. За́втра у нас важ́ная встре́ча с дире́ктором. Other combinations using material from Chapters 1 through 14 are also correct.
Reading
- The writer did not write earlier because he felt unwell and lay at home for several days.
- The writer usually works with a computer in the morning and calls the team in the afternoon.
- The writer wants to explain to the boss why they need more time, tomorrow, at the discussion with the boss.
Looking Ahead
Что вы уже уме́ете — What you can do now
You can describe your job, your studies, and your role using the instrumental case, say what tool or means you use, say who you work or study with, compare schedules and workplaces, and use common communication verbs with their correct case.