The verb дава́ть is a regular first conjugation verb, which conjugates like вста-ва-ть and препода-ва-ть which you learned in Unit 5. In these verbs the -ва- drops out, leaving the stem in дай- . The perfective partner for дава́ть is дать, another of Russian’s four completely irregular verbs. You will notice that its conjugation shares some features with the verb есть.
| Infinitive | дава́ть | дать |
|---|---|---|
| Stem: | дай- | |
| я | даю́ | дам |
| ты | даёшь | дашь |
| он/она́ | даёт | даст |
| мы | даём | дади́м |
| вы | даёте | дади́те |
| они́ | даю́т | даду́т |
| Past | дава́л | дал |
| дава́ла | дала́ | |
| дава́ло | да́ло | |
| дава́ли | да́ли |
The verb брать is a regular first conjugation verb with the stem: бер-. Its perfective partner is the first conjugation verb взять with a stem: возьм-. Both бер- and возьм- take stressed endings.
Listen to these sentences and note whether the person is giving or taking the object and whether the action is happening in the present or the future.
| 1. | Give | Take | Now | Future |
| 2. | Give | Take | Now | Future |
| 3. | Give | Take | Now | Future |
| 4. | Give | Take | Now | Future |
| 5. | Give | Take | Now | Future |
| 6. | Give | Take | Now | Future |
| 7. | Give | Take | Now | Future |
| 8. | Give | Take | Now | Future |
In their interactions with Russians, Tony and Josh are asked the following questions.
| Скажи́, кем вы хоти́те стать. |
| Расскажи́, кака́я ра́зница ме́жду Росси́ей и Аме́рикой. |
The questions are both introduced by commands that could be translated in English as "Tell (me)." So, what is the difference between cкажи́ and the related расскажи́? Consider which question is likely to require the longer answer. Скажи́(те) is likely to introduce a question that requires just a word or a sentence length answer. Расскажи́(те) is likely to introduce a question that requires a longer answer with several paragraphs, or a story, or a detailed explanation.
Read the situation and decide whether you would use сказа́ть or рассказа́ть in the following contexts. Probablе answers are highlighted.
| Ситуа́ция | А | Б |
|---|---|---|
| 1. You stop someone on the street to ask them where the bus stop is. | Скажи́те, пожа́луйста, где нахо́дится остано́вка авто́буса. | Расскажи́те, пожа́луйста, где нахо́дится остано́вка авто́буса. |
| 2. A new Russian acquaintance volunteers to tell you a bit about his background. | С удово́льствием скажу́ вам немно́го о себе́. | С удово́льствием расскажу́ вам немно́го о себе́. |
| 3. You ask your Russian acquaintance to tell you what happened. | Скажи́, что случи́лось! | Расскажи́, что случи́лось! |
| 4. Your host mother asks you who you are going to the movies with. | Скажи́, с кем ты идёшь в кино́. | Расскажи́, с кем ты идёшь в кино́. |
| 5. Your teacher promises to tell you all about the local monuments tomorrow. | За́втра я скажу́ вам о па́мятниках. | За́втра я расскажу́ вам о па́мятниках. |
