Potapova Nina. Russian. Part I

Moscow: Foreign Language Publishing House, 1945. — 311 p.This book comprises Part I of an Elementary Course of Modern Russian for Englishmen and Americans. The introductory lessons are devoted to the sounds and chief phonetic peculiarities of the Russian language as compared with English, the habit of speaking, reading and writing being gradually acquired by the specially planned exercises. Later on, when working through the body of the book, it is advisable to use the introductory phonetic course for reference on all elementary questions of pronunciation and spelling. The main course of tuition is divided into six concentric sections. Each of these contains a definite lexical and grammatical part. A study of words and phrases is combined with a study of grammar rules and the use of typical constructions met with. This is the basis of the body of the book. The texts include only that grammar which has been already worked through, or is dealt with in the given lesson. The aim of this book is to give a practical knowledge of the language. Subjects for the texts of the lessons have been chosen, as far as vocabulary and phraseology are concerned, to cover the most usual topics of everyday life. Part 1 gives the student a command of about 2,000 words. The grammar covered includes: the tenses of the verbs in the Present Past and Future, the Imperative Mood, concise information regarding the Aspects of the Verbs, and the main types of declensions of Nouns, Adjectives and Personal Pronouns. Particular attention is given to the importance of the cases and their usage. Grammar material is based on various types of simple sentences. In addition, from the first section, the most frequently used and easiest constructions of complex sentences are introduced. Special attention has been given, in the elucidation of grammar, to the characteristics of the Russian language as compared with English. Each lesson of the main course, Part 1, is provided not only with a vocabulary, but also with lists of the new words arranged in grammatical categories. These may be used for the work, for various lexical and grammar lessons, and for oral and written practice. The lessons are furnished with lexical, grammar and phonetic exercises.