Even with strong students, the Russian language sometimes «fails». Fluent speech creates a feeling of confidence, but this does not mean that there are no mistakes, especially in small details and stable constructions.
At lessons, you can often notice that a student speaks fluently and clearly, but uses forms that sound unnatural to a native speaker. Usually at this point, the student is surprised: everything is formally correct, but it sounds strange. Most often it is not a question of knowledge, but of linguistic experience.
In this article we will analyze 5 words and language constructions in which even advanced learners and bilinguals make mistakes.
Why errors occur
There is one important point: more often than not, the problem is not with «bad Russian», but with the way the language is organized in general and how it is learned.
Linguistic flair
In the Russian language, much is based not on rules, but on habit. Prepositions, stable combinations, choice of form - all this cannot be logically calculated. You either hear these things and memorize them, or you get confused about them all the time.
Therefore, a textbook alone is not enough. The language sense is formed when a person regularly hears live speech: reading, watching videos, listening to podcasts, communicating. Without this, the forms simply do not «settle» in the head.
Influence of a second language
In bilinguals and advanced learners, the second language is almost always actively involved in thinking. Very often it is English. Because of this, Russian phrases are unconsciously constructed according to familiar models.
In live speech, you can hear it immediately:
- there's an extra «is.»;
- universal verbs of motion are used;
- sentences become too direct in structure.
Such errors are persistent and fade slowly - this is normal.
The richness of the forms of the Russian language
The Russian language offers a wide range of forms: cases, verb types, shades of meaning. For the student, this is a constant choice - and not always obvious. This makes the language alive. And at the same time it creates difficulties for those who learn it.
Mistake #1. «Walked» (in the sense of «drove», «flew»)
«Walked.»
How to spell it wrong
- I went to Australia.
- I went to Paris last year.
What's the right way
✔ I flew to Australia.
✔ I went to Paris.
✔ I went to Russia to visit my grandparents.
Explanation
The verb «to walk» is related in Russian:
- or traveling on foot;
- or with regular action.
✔ I go to the gym three times a week.
✔ I walked to school.
✔ I walk to work.
Tip
If we are talking about an airplane, train, bus, or car, we don't use the verb «walked».
Mistake #2. «Walked» and «walked»
«Shel.»
How wrong
- Yesterday he was walking home and met a friend.
- I walked down the street and thought about life.
That's right
Process (what was in the moment):
✔ He was walking home and saw a friend.
✔ She was walking down the street and listening to music.
✔ I was walking to the store when it started to rain.
Fact (no details):
✔ He went to visit.
✔ She went to the store.
✔ We went for a walk in the evening.
Explanation
- «Walked / walked» - it's what happened in the process that matters.
- «Walked / walked» - the fact of the action is important.
Recommendations
Ask yourself a question:
Am I just reporting a fact or sharing a story?
Mistake #3. Prepositions «in» and «on»
How to spell it wrong
- on the book
- on the page
- in the photo
How do you need
✔ in a book, in a magazine, in a text
✔ on the page, on the photo, on the picture
✔ in a letter, but on a postcard
Examples in sentences
✔ There's an interesting chapter in the book.
✔ On page 25 you will find all the answers.
✔ This picture is of our mom and dad.
✔ There are many new words in the text.
Why is that?
Prepositions do not translate logically, but are memorized as stable combinations.
Tip
It is better to learn a couple of words at once rather than a single word:
👉 in the book, on the page
Mistake #4. Runaway vowel
«eagle to eagle,» «campfire to campfire,» «day to day,»
Mistakes
- no eagle
- no campfire
- no flamethrower
Correct spelling
✔ eagle to eagle
✔ bonfire
✔ fire
✔ a day is a day
✔ sleep - sleep
Examples in sentences
✔ We saw an eagle in the sky.
✔ In the evening we sat around the fire.
✔ A whole night without sleep.
✔ There is no day of rest today.
In practice
In some words, the vowel disappears in the genitive case - this is the norm of the Russian language.
Recommended
If a vowel «runs away,» don't panic, but memorize it
Mistake #5. Superfluous «is» in sentences
«Got it.»
How wrong
- My work is interesting.
- This city is beautiful.
How true
✔ Your work is interesting.
✔ This city is beautiful.
✔ My friend is very smart.
✔ This play is boring.
When «is» is used
✔ I have a job.
✔ There is a sea in this city.
Why is that
This mistake is very common in lessons. In Russian, the verb «is» is not usually pronounced in the present tense, unlike in English. If it is not removed, the phrase immediately begins to sound non-Russian.
In practice
If it is not necessary to emphasize presence or possession, «is» is not used.
Lifehacks from a teacher
- Do not learn rules, but ready-made phrases - this way the language is memorized faster.
- Listen to Russian speech regularly, even if it seems that «everything is clear».
- Pay attention to the points where the phrase seems to be translated from English.
- Don't be afraid of mistakes: they are what show where the language has not yet become automatic.
