Understanding Demonstrative Pronouns in Russian Grammar

Demonstrative pronouns play an essential role in Russian grammar, as they allow speakers to clearly identify and reference specific objects or individuals. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of demonstrative pronouns in Russian, exploring their forms, uses, and how they differ from their English counterparts.

Varieties and Forms of Demonstrative Pronouns in Russian

Russian language offers two main sets of demonstrative pronouns: этот (this) and тот (that), each with their respective declensions. Both sets follow the rules of grammatical gender, number, and case, allowing them to adapt to the nouns they modify or replace.

Below, we provide a detailed breakdown of the aforementioned demonstrative pronouns in each gender, case, and number, listing their singular and plural forms.

Этот (This)

Nominative:
– Masculine: этот
– Feminine: эта
– Neuter: это
– Plural: эти

Accusative:
– Masculine: этого (animate), этот (inanimate)
– Feminine: эту
– Neuter: это
– Plural: этих (animate), эти (inanimate)

Genitive:
– Masculine: этого
– Feminine: этой
– Neuter: этого
– Plural: этих

Dative:
– Masculine: этому
– Feminine: этой
– Neuter: этому
– Plural: этим

Instrumental:
– Masculine: этим
– Feminine: этой
– Neuter: этим
– Plural: этими

Prepositional:
– Masculine: об этом
– Feminine: об этой
– Neuter: об этом
– Plural: об этих

Тот (That)

Nominative:
– Masculine: тот
– Feminine: та
– Neuter: то
– Plural: те

Accusative:
– Masculine: того (animate), тот (inanimate)
– Feminine: ту
– Neuter: то
– Plural: тех (animate), те (inanimate)

Genitive:
– Masculine: того
– Feminine: той
– Neuter: того
– Plural: тех

Dative:
– Masculine: тому
– Feminine: той
– Neuter: тому
– Plural: тем

Instrumental:
– Masculine: тем
– Feminine: той
– Neuter: тем
– Plural: теми

Prepositional:
– Masculine: о том
– Feminine: о той
– Neuter: о том
– Plural: о тех

Proper Usage of Demonstrative Pronouns in Russian

Demonstrative pronouns in Russian serve various functions, such as replacing or modifying a noun, or pointing at a specific object or person in a sentence. However, there are essential distinctions when compared to the English language, which is crucial to understand when learning Russian.

Replacing a Noun

Russian demonstrative pronouns can efficiently replace a noun when its context has been previously established. For instance:

– У меня есть эта книга. (I have this book.)
– Я купил те билеты. (I bought those tickets.)

Modifying a Noun

When modifying a noun, the demonstrative pronoun should always agree with the noun in gender, case, and number, and be placed directly before the noun being modified. For example:

– Этот стол большой. (This table is big.)
– Те девушки красивые. (Those girls are beautiful.)

Pointing to an Object or Person

Russian demonstrative pronouns also serve as an essential tool for showing the position or proximity of an object or person:

– Вот этот дом, который мы искали. (Here is this house that we were looking for.)
– Вы видите тот забор? За ним сад. (Do you see that fence? There’s a garden behind it.)

Conclusion

In summary, demonstrative pronouns in Russian grammar are a vital component for effective communication, as they offer the means to point out or refer to specific objects or people. By mastering the forms and usages of these pronouns, learners can significantly enhance their overall understanding of the Russian language and seamlessly integrate themselves into various conversational contexts.