Knowing some of the basic conventions of Russian language is super helpful because not only are we using some original Russian, the entire show is translated from Russian, so it's fascinating to know what different meanings and contexts are expressed through different functions of language.

​

Generally, Russian sentence structure is similar to English.

Word order is commonly Subject - Verb - Object

I eat apples | Я ем яблоки

​

As a general exception, adjectives in Russian precede the nouns they describe.

red apples | красные яблоки

​

Additionally, similar to English, Russian word order is quite flexible. 

For example, in English, it is perfectly acceptable to say:

Tomorrow, I'm going to work | Завтра я собираюсь работать

AND

I'm going to work tomorrow | Я собирасюь работать завтра

​

Word order is a function of what information is more important and bears additional stress. However, owing to Russian's grammatical case system, word order is even more flexible than English. This is because Russian makes use of a system of declensions whereby special endings are added to words to indicate what role those words play in a sentence. (Declensions means Russian words get modified based on which grammatical case is being used.)

​

Russian sentences can also be simpler than English sentences because

1) Russian has no definite or indefinite articles (a, the, that, these, etc.)

2) It is common (and proper) to drop pronouns when the context is clear

3) In the present tense, the verb "to be" (быть) is almost always absent

​

Because Russian doesn't have any definite or indefinite articles, sentences become shorter. For example, the sentence "Он хочем купить новый компютер" could be translated as either of the following:

He wants to buy a new computer (He doesn't know which computer he wants to buy yet)

OR

He wants to buy the new computer (There is a specific computer he wants to buy)

​

In most cases, larger context will be able to clarify what's taking place.

​

Russian sentences can also be shorter because of the typical conventions of dropping pronouns.

For example:

I want to eat | Я хочуесть

In Russian, it's also equally acceptable to drop the personal pronoun "I" (Я) and simply say:

Xочуесть

​

​