Прое́кт 1: Пра́ктическая перепи́ска
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Write and respond to a practical piece of correspondence that combines location, people, choices, and quantities.
- Ask and answer questions about where something is, where it is going, and where it came from, using the prepositional, accusative, and genitive contrasts from Chapter 2.
- Refer accurately to people and things using accusative animate plural forms, demonstratives, and pronoun case forms from Chapter 3.
- Apply genitive singular after 2 through 4, genitive plural after 5 and above, and ordinal numbers for dates, following the patterns from Chapter 4.
- Demonstrate comprehension of connected spoken and written Russian that recycles Chapters 1 through 4.
- Complete an integrated speaking and writing task that draws only on material already active in this volume.
This chapter introduces no new case, no new aspect contrast, no new motion verb, and no new orthography or pronunciation system. Every task below recycles and combines material from Chapters 1 through 4 only.
Communication Scenario
Тама́ра has moved to a new part of the city and is writing to her friend Ле́на, who lives in another town, to explain where she now lives, who she has met, what she has been buying, and how she is managing her small budget before an upcoming visit. Ле́на writes back with her own questions and news. Their correspondence brings together everything Тама́ра has practiced so far this volume, describing places, people, choices, and money in one connected exchange.
- You will read and write a short letter or set of messages describing a place, the people in it, and a plan involving money or dates.
- You will answer questions about location, people, and quantity drawn from the letters.
- You will produce your own connected correspondence recycling Chapters 1 through 4.
Core Vocabulary
This chapter does not introduce new vocabulary domains. The table below gathers the highest value words from Chapters 1 through 4 that this chapter's tasks depend on most directly. Review the fuller vocabulary tables in those chapters as needed.
| Russian | Meaning | Chapter of origin |
|---|---|---|
| го́род | city, town | Chapter 2 |
| рай́он | district, neighborhood | Chapter 2 |
| сосе́д / сосе́дка | neighbor | Chapter 3 |
| подру́га / друг | friend | Chapter 3 |
| ве́щи | things, belongings | Chapter 3 |
| бюдже́т | budget | Chapter 4 |
| цена́ | price | Chapter 4 |
| пода́рок | gift | Chapter 4 |
| ме́сяц / неде́ля | month / week | Chapter 4 |
| письмо́ | letter | Chapter 1, recycled here |
No word in this table is new. Each entry keeps the stress, gender, and case information already established in its chapter of origin.
Pronunciation Focus
This chapter's pronunciation work is a review task, not a new system. Before submitting any written task in this chapter, read it aloud once, checking stress on every word longer than two syllables and listening for the natural rhythm between numbers and the nouns that follow them, as you practiced in Chapter 4.
- Reread the Model Correspondence below aloud, paying attention to stress on place names, people, and prices.
- Check that unstressed о and а are reduced naturally rather than pronounced as full vowels.
- Confirm that хард and soft consonant contrasts remain clear even when reading quickly.
Grammar Review, Chapters 1 through 4
This chapter introduces no new grammar. The tables below summarize what you must recognize and produce accurately in this chapter's tasks, all of it already active from Chapters 1 through 4.
Location, destination, and source
- Я живу́ в но́вом рай́оне.I live in a new district.prepositional after в, location
- Я е́ду в го́род к подру́ге.I am going to the city to see a friend.accusative after в, destination
- Я пишу́ тебе́ из но́вой кварти́ры.I am writing to you from my new apartment.genitive after из, source
People, things, and choices
- Я уже́ ви́жу свои́х сосе́дей ка́ждый день.I already see my neighbors every day.accusative animate plural, сосе́дей
- Э́ти лю́ди о́чень до́брые.These people are very kind.demonstrative э́ти agreeing with лю́ди
Quantities and money
- У меня́ есть то́лько два дня до пра́здника.I have only two days before the celebration.genitive singular after два
- Я потра́тила пять ты́сяч рубле́й в э́том ме́сяце.I spent five thousand rubles this month.genitive plural after пять
- Мы встре́тимся деся́того ию́ня.We will meet on the tenth of June.ordinal number, genitive of date
Every sentence in this chapter's tasks should combine two or more of the systems above rather than introducing anything untaught. A strong sentence might state where something is, who is involved, and how much it costs, all in one clear, correctly cased sentence.
Пра́ктика — Practice: Complete each sentence, choosing the correct case or form based on the Chapter 1 through 4 patterns above.
- Я живу́ в но́в___ до́ме, недалеко́ от це́нтра.
- Ка́ждый день я ви́жу свои́х но́в___ сосе́дей.
- У меня́ есть то́лько три ___ (день) до пое́здки.
- Я купи́ла пода́рок за пятьсо́т ___ (рубль).
- Мы встре́тимся ___ (пе́рвый) ма́я.
Model Correspondence: Пра́ктическая перепи́ска
Context: Тама́ра writes to her friend Ле́на about her new district, her new neighbors, and her budget before an upcoming visit. Ле́на writes back with questions and her own news.
Notice how this exchange combines location and source, people and pronoun reference, and quantity and dates in a single natural correspondence, without introducing anything beyond Chapters 1 through 4.
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.
- Where did Viktor recently move, and what is nearby?
- How many neighbors does Viktor mention, and how does he describe them?
- What did Viktor buy at the market, and how much did it cost?
- Find one sentence that uses a number with the genitive case, and identify the noun.
Speaking Practice
Управля́емая пра́ктика — Controlled practice: describe your street
Describe your own street or neighborhood in three or four sentences, mentioning at least one neighbor or person you see regularly and where something is located.
Коммуникати́вное зада́ние — Communicative task: plan a visit
With a partner, imagine that one of you is visiting the other's city. Discuss where you live, who your partner will meet, and how much the trip or a small gift might cost.
Самостоя́тельная пра́ктика — Solo alternative
Record yourself describing an imagined visit from a friend, mentioning your neighborhood, at least one person, a price, and a date.
Reading Practice
Письмо́ от Ната́ши — A letter from Natasha
До́брый день, Серге́й! Я пишу́ тебе́ из но́вого до́ма, кото́рый нахо́дится далеко́ от це́нтра, но недалеко́ от па́рка. У меня́ есть четы́ре но́вых сосе́да, и все они́ о́чень дружелю́бные. На э́той неде́ле я купи́ла не́сколько веще́й для до́ма, оди́н стол и два сту́ла, всё вме́сте за две ты́сячи рубле́й. Мой день рожде́ния бу́дет тре́тьего а́вгуста, и я уже́ ду́маю, кого́ пригласи́ть. Напиши́ мне ско́ро!
Зада́ние по чте́нию — Reading task:
- Where does Natasha's new home stand in relation to the center and the park?
- How many neighbors does she mention, and how does she describe them?
- What did Natasha buy, and how much did it cost together?
- Find two sentences that combine a case and a quantity, and identify both.
Writing Workshop
Complete the following linked writing tasks in order. This workshop asks you to write a short piece of practical correspondence that combines location, people, and quantity.
Зада́ние 1 — Outline: Before writing, list where you live or are writing from, one or two people you want to mention, one thing you recently bought with its price, and one important date.
Зада́ние 2 — Моё письмо́: Write a connected letter or set of messages of at least eight to ten sentences, addressed to a friend, describing where you live, at least one person, at least one purchase with a price, and one date. Include at least one example each of the prepositional, accusative, and genitive cases, and at least one number requiring the genitive singular and one requiring the genitive plural.
- Review the Grammar Review section above. Confirm the case and number patterns you plan to use.
- Complete your outline. Choose real or imagined details you can describe clearly.
- Draft your letter in order. Open with a greeting, describe your situation, mention your purchase and date, and close naturally.
- Read your draft aloud once. Listen for stress, vowel reduction, and the rhythm between numbers and nouns.
- Check every case and number against the patterns reviewed above.
Спи́сок прове́рки — Final editing checklist:
- The letter names where the writer lives or is writing from, using an active case correctly.
- At least one person is mentioned, referred to consistently with correct case and agreement.
- A purchase or price appears with correct numeral government.
- An important date appears using a correctly declined ordinal number.
- Cyrillic, stress where genuinely needed, and `ё` are used correctly throughout.
- Punctuation, capitalization, and spelling rules follow Russian conventions.
Culture and Communication
Personal letters between friends in Russian-speaking communities commonly open with a greeting such as приве́т or до́брый день, and close with a warm, informal line before the signature. Conventions vary by generation, region, and preferred medium, so no single opening or closing applies to every writer or every relationship.
Combining several already active systems in one connected text is itself a skill that grows with practice. Notice how naturally location, people, and quantity appear together in real correspondence, rather than as separate, disconnected drills.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Error: Writing я живу́ в но́вый рай́он, using the accusative for a location that requires the prepositional.
Correction: Use the prepositional for location: я живу́ в но́вом рай́оне. Reserve the accusative, в но́вый рай́он, for destination after a verb of motion.
Error: Writing я ви́жу сосе́ди, ignoring the animate accusative plural pattern from Chapter 3.
Correction: Use the animate accusative plural, which matches the genitive plural: я ви́жу сосе́дей.
Error: Writing пять рубля́ in a quickly drafted letter, reverting to the genitive singular after a number that requires the genitive plural.
Correction: Slow down and check each number against the Chapter 4 rule: пять рубле́й. This final check matters most in connected writing, where the eye moves quickly.
Chapter Review
Location, destination, source
Prepositional for location, accusative for destination, genitive for source, all reviewed from Chapter 2.
People and reference
Animate accusative plural, demonstratives, and pronoun case forms, all reviewed from Chapter 3.
Quantity and dates
Genitive singular after 2 to 4, genitive plural after 5 and above, and ordinal numbers for dates, all reviewed from Chapter 4.
Combined production
This chapter's core skill is combining these three systems fluently in one connected piece of correspondence.
Listening
Follow a connected account combining a neighborhood, neighbors, a purchase, and a date.
Speaking
Describe a neighborhood, a person, a price, and a date clearly in connected speech.
Reading
Interpret a personal letter combining location, people, and quantity.
Writing
Compose a connected letter applying case, agreement, and numeral government accurately.
Часть A — Понима́ние (Comprehension)
1. Return to the Model Correspondence, and answer these short questions.
- How many neighbors does Тама́ра mention, and what are their names?
- On what date does Ле́на arrive, and how is she traveling?
Часть B — Пи́сьменная речь (Writing)
1. Write one sentence describing a location using the prepositional case.
2. Write one sentence naming a person or people using the accusative case.
3. Write one sentence using a number with the genitive plural.
Часть C — Чте́ние (Reading)
1. Return to Ната́ша's letter, and summarize it in three of your own sentences in English.
Часть D — Говоре́ние (Speaking)
1. With a partner, or on your own, describe your neighborhood, one neighbor, one purchase, and one date, connecting all four in a short spoken account.
Practical Performance Task: Прое́кт 1
Chapter 5 Unit I Assessment
Пра́ктическая перепи́ска: письмо́ дру́гуAssessment
Complete the following connected tasks, in order. This task collects cumulative assessment evidence for Chapters 1 through 4 only, drawing on location, people, choice, and quantity systems in one connected speaking and writing performance. No new grammar, case, aspect, motion, orthographic, or pronunciation system is introduced or assessed here.
- Complete your outline. Use the four prompts from the Writing Workshop above.
- Plan your letter with a partner, or plan it alone. Decide on a location, one or two people, a purchase, and a date.
- Describe your letter's content aloud, at least one minute long. Use at least one location expression, one reference to a person, and one price or date.
- Answer at least two follow-up questions from a partner, or imagine two such questions. Practice responding with correct case and numeral forms.
- Write your eight to ten sentence letter from the Writing Workshop. Apply the final editing checklist.
- Reflect briefly in English or Russian. Note which of the four Chapter 1 through 4 systems still needs the most conscious checking.
| Criterion | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Content clarity | The learner clearly describes a location, at least one person, a purchase, and a date. |
| Location, destination, source control | The learner correctly distinguishes prepositional, accusative, and genitive in context. |
| Reference and agreement control | The learner correctly applies animate accusative plural, demonstratives, and pronoun forms. |
| Numeral government control | The learner correctly applies genitive singular after 2 to 4 and genitive plural after 5 and above. |
| Ordinal number control | The learner correctly uses an ordinal number, agreeing with its noun, for a date. |
| Overall comprehensibility | The completed spoken and written account communicates clearly to a sympathetic listener or reader familiar with A2 to B1 Russian. |
This task is the first of the four cumulative unit assessments scheduled in Chapters 5, 10, 15, and 20. It formally assesses only Chapters 1 through 4.
Answer Key
Grammar Review Practice
- Я живу́ в но́вом до́ме, недалеко́ от це́нтра.
- Ка́ждый день я ви́жу свои́х но́вых сосе́дей.
- У меня́ есть то́лько три дня до пое́здки.
- Я купи́ла пода́рок за пятьсо́т рубле́й.
- Мы встре́тимся пе́рвого ма́я.
Listening — Comprehension
- Viktor recently moved to a new district, not far from the market.
- Viktor mentions three neighbors and describes them as very pleasant people.
- Viktor bought two kilos of vegetables and one bottle of milk, costing around three hundred rubles.
- Sample answer: Я купи́л два кило́ ово́щей uses the genitive plural, ово́щей, after два кило́.
Model Correspondence — Comprehension
- Тама́ра mentions two neighbors, Ири́на and Па́вел.
- Ле́на arrives on the fifteenth of June, traveling by train.
Reading
- Ната́ша's new home stands far from the center but not far from the park.
- She mentions four neighbors and describes them as very friendly.
- Ната́ша bought a table and two chairs, together costing two thousand rubles.
- Sample sentences: У меня́ есть четы́ре но́вых сосе́да and всё вме́сте за две ты́сячи рубле́й.
Writing
Sample letter: Приве́т, Анна! Я живу́ в но́вом рай́оне, недалеко́ от па́рка. У меня́ есть два но́вых сосе́да, и они́ о́чень до́брые. На э́той неде́ле я купи́ла кни́гу и ру́чку, всё вме́сте за пятьсо́т рубле́й. Мой день рожде́ния бу́дет девя́того ию́ля, и я уже́ приглаша́ю друзе́й. Напиши́ мне ско́ро! Other letters drawing accurately on Chapters 1 through 4 vocabulary and grammar are also correct.
Looking Ahead
Что вы уже уме́ете — What you can do now
You can describe where you live, refer accurately to the people around you, state prices and quantities correctly, and use ordinal numbers for dates, all in one connected piece of practical correspondence.