Russian Sentence Structure: How to Build Simple Sentences

Understanding Russian sentence structure is essential for speaking and writing clearly in Russian. Russian follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) order, but it is much more flexible than English, thanks to its case system. This article will guide you through the basics of sentence construction in Russian.

Basic Sentence Structure:

Subject: The subject is typically the person or thing performing the action.
Example: Я (I)
Verb: The verb expresses the action or state of being.
Example: читаю (am reading)
Object: The object receives the action of the verb.
Example: книгу (a book)

Creating Simple Sentences:

Positive Sentences: Я читаю книгу. (I am reading a book.)
Negative Sentences: Я не читаю книгу. (I am not reading a book.)
Questions: Ты читаешь книгу? (Are you reading a book?)

Tips for Building Sentences:

Start with Simple Sentences: Begin by constructing simple sentences with basic vocabulary and build complexity as you progress.
Use Word Order to Your Advantage: Russian word order is flexible, allowing you to emphasize different parts of the sentence.