Imagine a potful of steamed rice on the table. Its name sounds almost like an instruction: «It cooks itself.» And according to the most famous version, the word came about from «sam» and «cook.» With a vacuum cleaner, a leaf blower, and a pedestrian, it’s even clearer. Each of these words is made up of two parts and tells you what it does.
In speech, a child can easily put together such words. Questions begin in a notebook. Third-grade student Sonya from Seattle, a character in the story, wrote in one exercise «pedo-walker,» «bright red,» and «lemonade.» Three mistakes, and each has its own reason. Let's break them down one by one, like clues, and at the same time see what a complex word is made of and what holds it together.
What are complex words and how do they form?
A complex word is one that has two or more roots. In «vodopad» the roots are «vod» and «pad», in «zemlekope» «zeml» and «kop». According to the «School of Russia» program, complex words are introduced in the third grade, just at the age of Sonya.
Most often, the two bases are joined by the consonant «o» or «e», as in the words «snowfall» and «bird catcher». Sometimes whole words are simply placed next to each other with a hyphen, like «sofa-bed» or «rain coat-tent». And «kindergarten» and «workwear» are made up of shortened parts; such words are called compound-shortened words.
Connecting vowels «o» and «e»
Let’s start with the «pedestrian», which Sonya recorded through the «o». To understand which vowel is needed at the juncture, we have to go back to the first word in its usual form and look at the final consonant before the juncture. After a hard consonant, «o» is written; therefore, water gives a waterfall and snow gives a snowfall. After a soft consonant or a whistling consonant, «e» is written, and the ground gives a bulldozer. In «pedestrian», the whistling «sh» stands before the juncture, so «pedestrian» is correct.
Stress doesn't help here; they don't check for the connecting consonant. It's worth warning the child about the «c». This sound is hard, but at the juncture after it, «e» is still written, as in «pigeon hunter».
There are exceptions to the rule, but they are rare. «Konoviazh», for example, is spelled with an «o», even though there is a «horsebreeding» business nearby. Such words are checked against a dictionary.
When a complex word is written with a hyphen and when it is written with a period
Why can’t «bright red» be written hyphenated like Sonya did? For complex adjectives, a simple question is useful. Is it possible to insert a «and» between the parts? The Russian-English dictionary explains itself as «Russian and English», so the parts are equal and a hyphen is placed between them. In «railway», this won’t work; it is formed from «railway», where one word depends on the other and is written hyphenated. The shades of color and the direction of light are easier to remember separately; they are written with a hyphen. Hence «bright red», and with it «pale blue» and «north-west».
With nouns, the support is different. The word with a connecting consonant is written together, like «litopad». Two independent words placed next to each other without a consonant are joined by a hyphen, as in «divan-krovatiy». Compound words like «detsada» are also written together.
«Oh, it's just half a lemon,» the child might say about the word «half lemon.» It is indeed half a lemon, but it has its own rules. When the next word begins with a vowel, with a «l» or with a capital letter, they write «half lemon»; hence «half-lemon,» «half-Moscow,» and «half a lemon.» They write it separately when the word «half» and the noun are separated by a definition, as in «half a teaspoon of tea» or «half of the Moscow region.» In other cases, «half» is written with a hyphen, for example "half an hour." And "half-" is usually written with a hyphen, as in "half a circle.".
There are exceptions to each of these rules; the Rosenblatt reference book lists them, and if a child's textbook interprets the situation in its own way, the textbook has the final say.
Conjointly, with a hyphen or separately
| The case | How to write it | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective with equal parts | the «and» can be inserted between the parts; it is written with a hyphen. | Russian-English, scientific and technical |
| An adjective where one part depends on the other | «The »i" is not inserted; it is written hyphenated. | railway |
| Color shades and directions of light | through a hyphen | bright red, pale blue, northwestern |
| A noun with a connecting consonant | together | waterfall, autumn foliage |
| Two independent words without a connecting consonant | through a hyphen | sofa bed, umbrella tent |
| Shortened word | together | kindergarten, work clothes |
| «The »p« before a vowel, before »l', before a capital letter | through a hyphen | Half an apple, half a lemon, half a Moscow |
| «Paul,» if there is a definition between him and the noun | separately | half a teaspoon, half of the Moscow region |
| «Paul» in other cases | together | half an hour, half a kilogram |
| «Semi-» | usually merged | half-circle, peninsula |
There are exceptions to every rule; the Rosenblatt reference book lists them in full. If your child's textbook interprets the situation in its own way, you should follow that approach.
Where do bilinguals go wrong?
Sonia probably already introduced her to a similar model at the English school. Waterfall It is arranged in the same way as a «waterfall», with water and a fall. Snowfall repeats «snowfall», and earthquake «earthquake». The difference in grip. In waterfall and snowfall The parts are placed end-to-end, without any vowel, and in Russian pairs it is necessary to add a vowel; in the «earthquake,» according to the rule for a soft consonant, it is «e».
The English model and the Russian word
| In English | In Russian | Vowels at the juncture | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| waterfall | waterfall | о | in the «water» before the junction there is a solid «d» |
| snowfall | snowfall | о | in «snow» before the junction there is a solid «g» |
| earthquake | earthquake | е | in the «land» before the junction there is a soft «l» |
There is also a second difference. English complex words are written as they please the author. Notebook is written with a hyphen, well-known through a hyphen, ice cream Separately. The child may break a Russian complex word into two parts or lose the connecting «o». Perhaps this is influenced by the English habit, but one mistake does not allow to determine the cause. On the other hand, English pairs can be turned into an exercise. The adult calls the English word, the child chooses the Russian word assembled according to the same model, and decides for themselves which vowel will be placed at the juncture.
Game for home
One game is enough for this topic: «Unscramble the Word.» The adult names the difficult word, and the child explains what words it is made of and what it means. Vacuum cleaner, deciduous tree, pedestrian, excavator, waterfall. You can also ask what vowel is at the juncture and why. And at the end, return to the samovar and ask what words it is made of, according to the most well-known version.
How is it done correctly?
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Free material
10 simple games in Russian
Free PDF for bilingual children from 4 years old. Games for home, walks, and the road, without preparation or special materials. Leave your contact information, and we will send you the file.
If you want regular practice with a teacher, Palme School has an online course. «Russian for bilinguals» For children aged four and up. Classes are held in small groups; the group lesson lasts 40 minutes; two free group lessons give the child and their parents time to get to know the program and the teacher. The methodologist will assess the child's level free of charge. For daily practice, this level is suitable. Russian language training program. And if it's more convenient to work one-on-one, there are Private lessons with a free first lesson, during which the level is determined.
Frequently asked questions about difficult words
What is the meaning of complex words in simple words?
Words that have two or more roots: waterfall, earthmover, pedestrian. Usually, the parts are joined by the vowel «o» or «e».
Which vowels connect the parts of a complex word?
«The letter »O« and the letter »e«. If the last consonant of the first part is a hard consonant, it is written »o«, as in »waterfall«. After a soft consonant, a whistling consonant or a »c«, it is written »e«, as in »landscaper« and »birdwatcher".
When is a complex word written with a hyphen?
With adjectives, equal parts are written with a hyphen, between which you can insert «and» (Russian-English), as well as shades of color and the direction of light. With nouns, the hyphen is placed between two independent words without a connecting consonant: sofa-bed.
How do you spell «half» with other words?
Most often it is hyphenated, as in «half an hour». The hyphen is needed when the next word begins with a vowel, with «l» or a capital letter, for example «half an apple». And if there is a definition between «half» and the noun, it is written separately, as in recipes, where the «half a teaspoon» is used.
What are compound words?
Words composed of shortened parts of other words, for example «kindergarten» from «kindergarten». They are written with a hyphen.
