Расска́зы и обще́ние
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Combine two related ideas into one sentence using the relative pronoun кото́рый, in the nominative and accusative case, agreeing with its noun in gender and number.
- Recognize кото́рый in other cases in reading, without being required to produce every case independently at this stage.
- Report what people generally say or think using impersonal expressions such as говоря́т, что and счита́ется, что, without naming a specific subject.
- Connect sentences smoothly using cohesive words such as поэ́тому, хотя́, и́з-за э́того, and кро́ме того́.
- Tell a short connected story that moves between background information, events, reasons, and reactions, drawing on the past-tense and comparative narration from Chapter 18.
- Read and interpret short pieces of public information, such as a notice or a short news item, identifying the main point without needing every detail.
This chapter continues Unit IV. It introduces кото́рый as a productive relative pronoun in the nominative and accusative case, general impersonal statements, and cohesive connectors as productive systems for the first time. All vocabulary, cases, and other grammar from Chapters 1 through 18 remain active and continue to appear throughout this chapter.
Communication Scenario
О́льга tells a friend about a neighbor she has known for years, and about some news she heard around the building. Later, Дми́трий reads a short notice posted in his apartment building about a planned repair, and explains it to his grandmother, Ба́бушка Ве́ра, connecting the different pieces of information so that the explanation makes sense as one connected account.
- You will learn how to describe a person, place, or thing more precisely by joining two sentences with кото́рый.
- You will practice reporting general opinions and common knowledge without naming exactly who said something.
- You will practice linking sentences into a connected story or explanation using cohesive connectors.
Core Vocabulary
The tables below present new vocabulary for stories, communication, public information, and reactions. All vocabulary from Chapters 1 through 18 remains productive and may appear in this chapter's tasks.
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| исто́рия, но́вость, но́вости | story, a piece of news, the news |
| расска́зывать/рассказа́ть (кому́? о чём?) | to tell, to recount (to someone, about something) |
| слы́шать/услы́шать (что? о ком? о чём?) | to hear (something, about someone, about something) |
| объясня́ть/объясни́ть (кому́? что?) | to explain (to someone, something) |
| реаги́ровать/отреаги́ровать (на что?) | to react (to something) |
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| объявле́ние, изве́стие | notice or announcement, piece of news |
| говоря́т, что... | they say that..., it is said that... |
| счита́ется, что... | it is considered that..., people generally think that... |
| поэ́тому, потому́ что | therefore, because |
| хотя́, кро́ме того́, и́з-за э́того | although, besides that, because of this |
Говоря́т, что and счита́ется, что are new impersonal expressions, active for the first time in this chapter. Хотя́ and кро́ме того́ are receptive for full clause-level nuance, but productive as simple connectors joining two short, familiar ideas.
Pronunciation Focus
Кото́рый carries stress on the second syllable in every form you will use in this chapter, кото́рый, кото́рая, кото́рое, кото́рые, and this stress does not move. Practice keeping that stress steady even when the word appears in the middle of a longer sentence, where English speakers sometimes let stress drift toward the main verb instead.
- кото́рый, кото́рая, кото́рое, кото́рые — fixed stress on -то́р-, unaffected by gender or number.
- поэ́тому — fixed stress on -э́то-, do not confuse with the demonstrative э́то.
- хотя́ — stress on the final syllable, distinct from хо́чет and other forms of хоте́ть.
When a sentence contains a clause introduced by кото́рый, read the whole sentence with a slight pause before кото́рый and a slight drop in pitch across the inserted clause, then return to the original pitch to finish the main sentence. This helps a listener hear where the added description begins and ends.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
The Relative Pronoun Кото́рый New
Кото́рый joins two sentences that share a noun, so that you can describe a person, place, or thing more precisely inside one longer sentence instead of two short, separated ones. Кото́рый agrees with the noun it refers to in gender and number, but its case depends on the role it plays inside its own clause. In this chapter, кото́рый is productive in the nominative case, when it is the subject of its clause, and in the accusative case, when it is the direct object of its clause.
- Э́то дом, кото́рый постро́или в про́шлом ве́ке.This is the house that was built in the last century.кото́рый, masculine, nominative subject of постро́или (recycled impersonal plural pattern from earlier chapters)
- У меня́ есть друг, кото́рый хорошо́ говори́т по-ру́сски.I have a friend who speaks Russian well.кото́рый, masculine, nominative, subject of говори́т
- Я не по́мню фильм, кото́рый мы смотре́ли в де́тстве.I do not remember the film that we watched in childhood.кото́рый, masculine, accusative, direct object of смотре́ли
Кото́рый in other cases, such as the dative, genitive, prepositional, and instrumental, appears occasionally in this chapter's reading and listening texts as receptive material only. Full case control of кото́рый is developed in Volume II.
Reporting What People Say: Говоря́т, что и Счита́ется, что New
Говоря́т, что and счита́ется, что allow you to report common opinions, general knowledge, or rumors without naming exactly who is speaking. Говоря́т literally means they say, but it functions as an impersonal expression similar to English it is said that. Счита́ется works the same way for general beliefs or opinions.
- Говоря́т, что в э́том до́ме бу́дет ремо́нт.They say that there is going to be a repair in this building.говоря́т, impersonal third-person plural with no stated subject
- Счита́ется, что э́тот райо́н стал бо́лее удо́бным за после́дние го́ды.It is generally thought that this district has become more convenient in recent years.счита́ется + что-clause; recycles стал + instrumental from Chapter 18
Говоря́т, что leaves the speaker unnamed on purpose, the same way English speakers say people say or it is said, without identifying anyone specific. Do not add a subject such as лю́ди or кто-то before говоря́т in this pattern; the impersonal plural verb alone carries that meaning.
Cohesive Connectors for Narrative New
Connectors link separate ideas into one smooth account. Поэ́тому and потому́ что both express cause and result, but in reversed order. Хотя́ introduces a contrast within one sentence. Кро́ме того́ and и́з-за э́того add or connect additional information.
- Начался́ дождь, поэ́тому мы верну́лись домо́й.It started to rain, therefore we returned home.поэ́тому introduces the result, after the cause
- Мы верну́лись домо́й, потому́ что начался́ дождь.We returned home because it started to rain.потому́ что introduces the cause, after the result (recycled from Chapter 4)
- Хотя́ бы́ло по́здно, ба́бушка ещё не спала́.Although it was late, grandmother was not yet asleep.хотя́ + short familiar clause, productive as a simple connector
- Ремо́нт бу́дет до́лгим. Кро́ме того́, он бу́дет дороги́м.The repair will be long. Besides that, it will be expensive.кро́ме того́ links two separate sentences, adding information
Model Dialogue: Расска́зы и обще́ние
Context: Дми́трий reads a notice posted in his apartment building and explains it to his grandmother, Ба́бушка Ве́ра.
Notice how кото́рый changes form to agree with different nouns, объявле́ние, сосе́дка, сосе́да, управля́ющий, while its case shifts according to its role inside each inserted clause. О кото́рой in the final line is receptive, an example of кото́рый in the prepositional case after a preposition.
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.
- Who told the speaker about the new store, and how does the speaker describe this person?
- What does the speaker say the new store will sell, and how certain is the speaker that this news is true?
- What other piece of news does the neighbor share about the building?
Speaking Practice
Управля́емая пра́ктика — Controlled practice: describing people with кото́рый
With a partner, take turns describing three people you know, real or invented, using a sentence with кото́рый for each. Use the nominative case for at least two of the three, and try the accusative case for at least one.
Коммуникати́вное зада́ние — Communicative task: sharing news
With a partner, tell each other a short, invented piece of building or neighborhood news. Use говоря́т, что or счита́ется, что at least once, and connect at least two ideas with поэ́тому, хотя́, or кро́ме того́.
Самостоя́тельная пра́ктика — Solo alternative
Record yourself telling a short connected story about a person, place, or piece of news, using at least two sentences with кото́рый and at least one impersonal expression such as говоря́т, что.
Reading Practice
Объявле́ние в подъе́зде — A notice in the entryway
Уважа́емые жильцы́! Сообща́ем, что на сле́дующей неде́ле нача́тся рабо́ты по ремо́нту кры́ши, кото́рые продля́тся приблизи́тельно семь дней. В э́ти дни во дворе́ бу́дет рабо́тать те́хника, поэ́тому мы про́сим быть осторо́жными и, е́сли возмо́жно, не оставля́ть маши́ны бли́зко к до́му. Хотя́ мы постара́емся сде́лать рабо́ту как мо́жно бы́стрее, вре́мя от вре́мени возмо́жен шум в дневны́е часы́. Кро́ме того́, вода́ бу́дет отключена́ на не́сколько часо́в в сре́ду. Жильцы́, у кото́рых есть вопро́сы, мо́гут обраща́ться к управля́ющему до́мом.
Зада́ние по чте́нию — Reading task:
- What work is planned, and roughly how long will it take?
- What are residents asked to do while the work is underway?
- What will happen on Wednesday, according to the notice?
Writing Workshop
Complete the following linked writing tasks in order. This workshop develops кото́рый, impersonal general statements, and cohesive connectors, introduced in this chapter.
Зада́ние 1 — Join the sentences: Combine each pair of sentences into one, using кото́рый.
Зада́ние 2 — A connected account: Write eight to ten sentences telling a short story or piece of news, real or invented, about your building, neighborhood, or a person you know. Use at least two sentences with кото́рый, one impersonal expression such as говоря́т, что or счита́ется, что, and at least two cohesive connectors.
- Review the Core Vocabulary tables above. Confirm the meaning of any new word you intend to use.
- Choose a simple piece of news or a person to describe. Keep the details familiar and manageable.
- Draft your account. Decide which idea comes first, and which connectors will link your sentences.
- Read your account aloud once. Listen for correct agreement between кото́рый and the noun it describes.
- Check impersonal expressions against the Grammar section. Confirm that говоря́т and счита́ется have no stated subject.
Спи́сок прове́рки — Editing checklist:
- At least two sentences use кото́рый, correctly agreeing in gender and number with the noun it describes.
- At least one impersonal expression, such as говоря́т, что or счита́ется, что, appears with no stated subject.
- At least two cohesive connectors, such as поэ́тому, хотя́, or кро́ме того́, link separate ideas.
- The account moves clearly from one idea to the next, rather than reading as a list of disconnected sentences.
- Vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1 through 18 are used correctly where they appear.
Culture and Communication
Printed notices posted in apartment building entryways are a common way that residents in many Russian-speaking communities learn about repairs, deliveries, meetings, or other building matters, alongside phone calls, messaging groups, and conversations with neighbors. Building life and the amount of casual contact between neighbors vary widely by city, building type, and individual household, so do not assume that every Russian-speaking household relies on printed notices or has close relationships with neighbors.
Говоря́т, что and счита́ется, что introduce information the speaker has heard or that is generally believed, without the speaker necessarily vouching for its accuracy. This is a useful, everyday way to share information responsibly, similar to English phrases such as I heard that or apparently. Notice how Дми́трий in the Model Dialogue uses счита́ется, что and then adds но я в э́том не увере́н, distancing himself from a claim he is only reporting.
Common Mistakes
Error: Saying Э́то же́нщина, кото́рый живёт ря́дом, using the masculine form кото́рый with a feminine noun.
Correction: Кото́рый must agree with the noun it refers to in gender and number, not with any other word nearby: Э́то же́нщина, кото́рая живёт ря́дом.
Error: Saying Лю́ди говоря́т, что за́втра бу́дет дождь when a simple impersonal report is intended.
Correction: The impersonal pattern works without a stated subject: Говоря́т, что за́втра бу́дет дождь. Add лю́ди only if you specifically mean a particular group of people, not a general, unnamed source.
Error: Saying Мы верну́лись домо́й, поэ́тому начался́ дождь, which states the result before the cause but uses the wrong connector.
Correction: Поэ́тому introduces a result after its cause: Начался́ дождь, поэ́тому мы верну́лись домо́й. Потому́ что introduces a cause after its result: Мы верну́лись домо́й, потому́ что начался́ дождь.
Chapter Review
Кото́рый, nominative and accusative
Joins two sentences that share a noun, agreeing with that noun in gender and number, in the nominative and accusative case.
Impersonal general statements
Reports common knowledge or opinion with говоря́т, что and счита́ется, что, without a stated subject.
Cohesive connectors
Links ideas smoothly using поэ́тому, потому́ что, хотя́, кро́ме того́, and и́з-за э́того.
Connected narration
Combines background, events, reasons, and reactions into one coherent account, building on Chapter 18.
Часть A — Понима́ние (Comprehension)
1. Return to the Model Dialogue, and answer these short questions.
- What work does the notice announce, and how does Дми́трий learn about the leaking roof?
- What is Ба́бушка Ве́ра's reaction to the planned repair?
Часть B — Пи́сьменная речь (Writing)
1. Write three sentences describing people you know, each using кото́рый.
2. Write one sentence reporting a piece of general news with говоря́т, что.
Часть C — Чте́ние (Reading)
1. Return to the building notice, and list what residents are asked to do and why.
Часть D — Говоре́ние (Speaking)
1. With a partner, share a short piece of invented news, using at least one cohesive connector.
Practical Performance Task
Chapter 19 Practical Task
Расска́зы и обще́ние: Connected Stories
Complete the following connected tasks, in order, drawing on кото́рый, impersonal general statements, and cohesive connectors from this chapter, together with material from Chapters 1 through 18.
- Read the Model Dialogue and the building notice. Answer the comprehension questions above before continuing.
- Describe two people or things using кото́рый. Use the nominative case for at least one and the accusative case for at least one.
- Report a piece of general news or opinion. Use говоря́т, что or счита́ется, что.
- Connect your ideas. Use at least two cohesive connectors, such as поэ́тому, хотя́, or кро́ме того́.
- Tell your account aloud as one connected story. Include background, an event or piece of news, a reason, and a reaction.
- Write your eight to ten sentence account from the Writing Workshop. Apply the editing checklist.
| Criterion | What is assessed |
|---|---|
| Кото́рый accuracy | The learner correctly uses кото́рый in the nominative and accusative case, agreeing in gender and number with the noun it describes. |
| Impersonal statement accuracy | The learner correctly uses говоря́т, что or счита́ется, что with no stated subject. |
| Cohesive connector accuracy | The learner correctly uses at least two cohesive connectors to link related ideas. |
| Connected narration | The learner produces a coherent multi-sentence account combining background, event, reason, and reaction. |
| Recycled accuracy | The learner correctly draws on vocabulary, case, aspect, and past-tense systems from Chapters 1 through 18. |
This task assesses the new productive systems of Chapter 19 together with recycled material from Chapters 1 through 18.
Answer Key
Listening — Comprehension
- A neighbor who has lived in the building for twenty years told the speaker about the new store, and the speaker describes her as someone who knows everyone and always hears the news first.
- The speaker says the new store will sell fresh bread and vegetables, but is not certain the news is true and hopes it is not just a rumor.
- The neighbor also says the building will soon be painted on the outside.
Model Dialogue — Comprehension
- The notice announces roof repair work; Дми́трий learns about the leaking roof from a neighbor who lives on the first floor.
- Ба́бушка Ве́ра dislikes the noise but is glad the roof will finally be fixed.
Writing
- 1. Э́то сосе́д, кото́рый живёт на тре́тьем этаже́. 2. Я чита́ю кни́гу, кото́рую я купи́л(а) вчера́. 3. У нас есть учи́тель, кото́рый хорошо́ объясня́ет грамма́тику. 4. Мы смотре́ли фильм, кото́рый всем понра́вился.
- Sample answer: У нас в до́ме есть сосе́дка, кото́рая живёт здесь мно́го лет. На про́шлой неде́ле она́ рассказа́ла мне но́вость, кото́рую услы́шала от управля́ющего. Говоря́т, что ско́ро начну́т ремо́нт ле́стницы, поэ́тому не́сколько дней бу́дет шу́мно. Хотя́ мне не нра́вится шум, я ра́д(а), что ле́стницу наконе́ц почи́нят. Кро́ме того́, счита́ется, что по́сле ремо́нта дом бу́дет вы́глядеть намно́го лу́чше. Other combinations using material from Chapters 1 through 19 are also correct.
Reading
- Roof repair work is planned, lasting approximately seven days.
- Residents are asked to be careful and, if possible, not leave cars close to the building, because equipment will be operating in the courtyard.
- According to the notice, the water will be shut off for several hours on Wednesday.
Looking Ahead
Что вы уже уме́ете — What you can do now
You can describe people, places, and things more precisely using кото́рый, report general opinions and common knowledge with говоря́т, что and счита́ется, что, and connect ideas smoothly into one coherent account using cohesive connectors such as поэ́тому, хотя́, and кро́ме того́.