The English word "are" is a form of the verb "to be" used with plural subjects (we are, you are, they are) and with the second person singular (you are). In Russian, the equivalent forms come from the verb "быть" (byt' - to be), though Russian has a unique characteristic: in the present tense, forms of "to be" are often omitted entirely in standard speech, creating what linguists call a "zero copula" construction.
Q: What does "are" mean in Russian? A: The English "are" corresponds to various forms in Russian: -
For "you are" (singular): ты есть (ty yest'), though есть is usually omitted -
For "we are": мы есть (my yest'), though есть is usually omitted -
For "you are" (plural/formal): вы есть (vy yest'), though есть is usually omitted -
For "they are": они есть (oni yest'), though есть is usually omitted -
In everyday Russian, these become simply: ты (ty), мы (my), вы (vy), они (oni) + predicate
In this lesson, we'll explore how Russian expresses the concept of "are" through 15 carefully constructed examples. You'll learn that while English requires "are" in sentences like "They are students," Russian typically says "Они студенты" (Oni studenty) - literally "They students" - omitting the verb entirely. This fundamental difference between English and Russian grammar will be illustrated through varied, natural sentences.
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Course Type: Language Learning Material -
Target Audience: English speakers learning Russian -
Level: Beginner to Intermediate -
Focus: Grammar and Vocabulary - Present tense of "to be" -
Method: Comparative linguistics with interlinear translation
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Russian often omits the present tense of "to be" where English requires "are" -
The word есть (yest') exists but is rarely used in everyday speech -
Context and word order convey the meaning that "are" provides in English -
When emphasis or existence is stressed, есть may appear -
Understanding this zero copula is crucial for natural Russian expression
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70.1 Они they студенты students
70.2 Мы we дома at-home
70.3 Вы you учителя teachers
70.4 Дети children в in школе school
70.5 Мои my родители parents врачи doctors
70.6 Вы you из from Америки America?
70.7 Эти these книги books очень very интересные interesting
70.8 Где where твои your друзья friends?
70.9 Цветы flowers в in саду garden красивые beautiful
70.10 Мы we готовы ready к to экзамену exam
70.11 Почему why они they такие such грустные sad?
70.12 Вы you всегда always добры kind ко to мне me
70.13 Эти these яблоки apples ещё still зелёные green
70.14 Наши our соседи neighbors очень very шумные noisy
70.15 Двери doors открыты open весь all день day
What is "are" in Russian? In Russian, "are" is typically expressed through a zero copula - meaning no verb is used at all. Where English says "They are students," Russian says "Они студенты" (They students). The verb есть exists but is omitted in normal present-tense statements. This is one of the most distinctive features of Russian grammar for English speakers to master.
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70.1 Они студенты. They are students.
70.2 Мы дома. We are at home.
70.3 Вы учителя. You are teachers.
70.4 Дети в школе. The children are at school.
70.5 Мои родители врачи. My parents are doctors.
70.6 Вы из Америки? Are you from America?
70.7 Эти книги очень интересные. These books are very interesting.
70.8 Где твои друзья? Where are your friends?
70.9 Цветы в саду красивые. The flowers in the garden are beautiful.
70.10 Мы готовы к экзамену. We are ready for the exam.
70.11 Почему они такие грустные? Why are they so sad?
70.12 Вы всегда добры ко мне. You are always kind to me.
70.13 Эти яблоки ещё зелёные. These apples are still green.
70.14 Наши соседи очень шумные. Our neighbors are very noisy.
70.15 Двери открыты весь день. The doors are open all day.
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70.1 Они студенты.
70.2 Мы дома.
70.3 Вы учителя.
70.4 Дети в школе.
70.5 Мои родители врачи.
70.6 Вы из Америки?
70.7 Эти книги очень интересные.
70.8 Где твои друзья?
70.9 Цветы в саду красивые.
70.10 Мы готовы к экзамену.
70.11 Почему они такие грустные?
70.12 Вы всегда добры ко мне.
70.13 Эти яблоки ещё зелёные.
70.14 Наши соседи очень шумные.
70.15 Двери открыты весь день.
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The most striking difference between English and Russian regarding "are" is that Russian typically doesn't use any word at all where English requires this verb. This is called the "zero copula" and is perfectly normal in Russian grammar.
While the verb exists, its present tense forms are rarely used in everyday speech:
Present Tense Forms of быть (to be)
I am = я есть (ya yest') - Almost never used You are (informal) = ты есть (ty yest') - Almost never used He/She/It is = он/она/оно есть (on/ona/ono yest') - Sometimes used for emphasis We are = мы есть (my yest') - Almost never used You are (formal/plural) = вы есть (vy yest') - Almost never used They are = они есть (oni yest') - Almost never used
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For emphasis: Они есть студенты! (They ARE students!) -
In mathematical/logical statements: Дважды два есть четыре (Two times two is four) -
To indicate existence: У меня есть книга (I have a book - literally "At me there is a book") -
In formal/archaic speech: Человек есть то, что он ест (A person is what he eats)
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Overusing есть: English speakers often insert есть where Russians would never use it -
Wrong: Они есть счастливые (They yest' happy) -
Right: Они счастливые (They happy = They are happy) -
Word order confusion: Russian word order is flexible, but adjectives typically follow this pattern: -
Subject + Adjective (Она красивая - She is beautiful) -
Subject + Noun (Он врач - He is a doctor) -
Forgetting case agreement: Even without "are," adjectives and nouns must agree with their subjects -
Книги интересные (Books are interesting) - plural adjective ending -ые -
Книга интересная (The book is interesting) - singular adjective ending -ая
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Identify your subject (we, you, they, plural nouns) -
Skip the verb "are" - don't translate it -
Add your predicate (adjective, noun, or prepositional phrase) -
Ensure agreement - adjectives and predicate nouns must match the subject in number and gender
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English: We are tired → Russian: Мы усталые (We tired) -
English: They are at work → Russian: Они на работе (They at work) -
English: You are my friend → Russian: Ты мой друг (You my friend)
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Present tense: Zero copula (no verb used) -
Past tense: были (byli) - "were" -
Future tense: будут (budut) - "will be" -
Conditional: были бы (byli by) - "would be" -
Imperative: будьте (bud'te) - "be!" (plural/formal)
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For English speakers, the absence of "are" in Russian sentences can feel incomplete or wrong, but this linguistic feature reflects deeper aspects of Russian thought and expression. Russian speakers don't perceive any "missing" element - the connection between subject and predicate is understood through context and inflection.
This grammatical difference has philosophical implications. Where English explicitly states existence or states of being with "are," Russian allows these relationships to be implicit. Some linguists argue this contributes to the Russian language's capacity for poetic ambiguity and philosophical depth.
In Russian literature and poetry, the zero copula creates opportunities for wordplay and double meanings that don't exist in English. Poets like Pushkin and Tsvetaeva exploited this feature to create compressed, powerful images.
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In casual conversation, Russians never use есть for "are" - doing so immediately marks you as a foreigner -
In formal speeches or documents, есть might appear more frequently for clarity or emphasis -
Russian children naturally acquire the zero copula; they don't "miss" the verb like English-speaking children learning Russian do -
In translated texts, especially technical or legal documents, translators might add есть for clarity to Russian readers familiar with Western languages
When Russians speak English, they often drop "are" and other forms of "to be," leading to stereotypical "Russian English" like "They students" or "We going to store." Understanding the zero copula helps English speakers appreciate why this happens and avoid similar errors in reverse when speaking Russian.
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"Мы выше любви. Мы выше всего мелкого, случайного, что мешает быть свободными и счастливыми, вот цель и смысл нашей жизни. Вперёд! Мы идём неудержимо к яркой звезде, которая горит там вдали!"
Мы we выше higher/above любви love. Мы we выше higher/above всего everything мелкого petty, случайного accidental, что that мешает hinders быть to-be свободными free и and счастливыми happy, вот here-is цель goal и and смысл meaning нашей our жизни life. Вперёд forward! Мы we идём go неудержимо irresistibly к to яркой bright звезде star, которая which горит burns там there вдали in-distance!
"Мы выше любви. Мы выше всего мелкого, случайного, что мешает быть свободными и счастливыми, вот цель и смысл нашей жизни. Вперёд! Мы идём неудержимо к яркой звезде, которая горит там вдали!"
"We are above love. We are above everything petty and accidental that hinders us from being free and happy - that is the goal and meaning of our life. Forward! We are going irresistibly toward the bright star that burns there in the distance!"
Мы выше любви. Мы выше всего мелкого, случайного, что мешает быть свободными и счастливыми, вот цель и смысл нашей жизни. Вперёд! Мы идём неудержимо к яркой звезде, которая горит там вдали!
This passage from Chekhov beautifully demonstrates the zero copula in literary Russian. Note how "Мы выше любви" (We above love) elegantly expresses "We are above love" without any form of the verb "to be." The construction "выше" (higher/above) functions as a predicate adjective.
The passage also shows: -
Zero copula with comparative: "Мы выше" (We are higher/above) -
Infinitive phrase: "мешает быть свободными" (hinders to be free) - here быть appears because it's an infinitive, not present tense -
Demonstrative as copula: "вот цель" (here is the goal) - вот serves a copula-like function -
Present tense action verb: "Мы идём" (We are going) - actual movement verbs are fully expressed
This literary example shows how Russian's zero copula creates concise, powerful statements. Chekhov's characters speak in philosophical absolutes that gain force from the directness of expression that the zero copula allows.
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70.16 В in тридевятом thrice-ninth царстве kingdom три three брата brothers
70.17 Старшие elder братья brothers умные clever и and богатые rich
70.18 А but младший younger Иван Ivan простой simple дурачок fool
70.19 Родители parents их their уже already старые old очень very
70.20 В in лесу forest деревья trees высокие tall и and тёмные dark
70.21 Там there звери beasts страшные terrible и and голодные hungry
70.22 Но but птицы birds в in лесу forest волшебные magical
70.23 Перья feathers их their золотые golden как like солнце sun
70.24 Реки rivers в in царстве kingdom том that молочные milky
70.25 А and берега shores кисельные jelly-like сладкие sweet
70.26 Дороги roads все all опасные dangerous для for путников travelers
70.27 Только only герои heroes смелые brave на on них them
70.28 Драконы dragons там there огромные enormous и and хитрые cunning
70.29 Но but царевны princesses прекрасные beautiful и and мудрые wise
70.30 Концы endings сказок fairy-tales всегда always счастливые happy
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70.16 В тридевятом царстве три брата. In a thrice-ninth kingdom there are three brothers.
70.17 Старшие братья умные и богатые. The elder brothers are clever and rich.
70.18 А младший Иван простой дурачок. But younger Ivan is a simple fool.
70.19 Родители их уже очень старые. Their parents are already very old.
70.20 В лесу деревья высокие и тёмные. In the forest the trees are tall and dark.
70.21 Там звери страшные и голодные. There the beasts are terrible and hungry.
70.22 Но птицы в лесу волшебные. But the birds in the forest are magical.
70.23 Перья их золотые как солнце. Their feathers are golden like the sun.
70.24 Реки в том царстве молочные. The rivers in that kingdom are of milk.
70.25 А берега кисельные, сладкие. And the shores are of kissel, sweet.
70.26 Дороги все опасные для путников. All roads are dangerous for travelers.
70.27 Только герои смелые на них. Only brave heroes are on them.
70.28 Драконы там огромные и хитрые. The dragons there are enormous and cunning.
70.29 Но царевны прекрасные и мудрые. But the princesses are beautiful and wise.
70.30 Концы сказок всегда счастливые. The endings of fairy tales are always happy.
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70.16 В тридевятом царстве три брата.
70.17 Старшие братья умные и богатые.
70.18 А младший Иван простой дурачок.
70.19 Родители их уже очень старые.
70.20 В лесу деревья высокие и тёмные.
70.21 Там звери страшные и голодные.
70.22 Но птицы в лесу волшебные.
70.23 Перья их золотые как солнце.
70.24 Реки в том царстве молочные.
70.25 А берега кисельные, сладкие.
70.26 Дороги все опасные для путников.
70.27 Только герои смелые на них.
70.28 Драконы там огромные и хитрые.
70.29 Но царевны прекрасные и мудрые.
70.30 Концы сказок всегда счастливые.
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The folk tale genre perfectly demonstrates the Russian zero copula in traditional narrative structures. Russian сказки (fairy tales) use specific patterns that help learners understand when "are" is implied:
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Setting descriptions: В тридевятом царстве (In the thrice-ninth kingdom) - no verb needed -
Character introductions: Старшие братья умные (The elder brothers [are] clever) -
Parallel structures: Often using и (and) or а (but) to contrast qualities
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Paired adjectives: умные и богатые (clever and rich) -
Intensifying adjectives: очень старые (very old) -
Comparative descriptions: младший... простой (younger... simple)
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тридевятое царство - "thrice-ninth kingdom" (traditional fairy tale setting) -
молочные реки - "milk rivers" (rivers of milk) -
кисельные берега - "kissel shores" (shores made of fruit jelly) -
дурачок - diminutive of "fool" (affectionate in folk tales)
Russian folk tales extensively use the zero copula in their traditional formulas: -
Opening formulas: Жили-были... (There lived/were...) -
Character descriptions: Иван дурак (Ivan [is a] fool) -
Setting descriptions: В лесу темно (In the forest [it is] dark) -
Closing formulas: Конец сказке (The end [is] to the tale)
These patterns help learners internalize the zero copula through memorable, culturally significant texts that Russian children grow up hearing.
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This lesson is part of the Latinum Institute's innovative language learning series, designed specifically for autodidacts seeking to master languages through careful, systematic study. The method draws from the pedagogical approach detailed at latinum.substack.com, emphasizing granular interlinear translation and cultural contextualization.
Our lessons employ the "construed text" approach, breaking down authentic texts into their smallest meaningful units. This allows learners to see exact correspondences between Russian and English, building vocabulary and grammatical understanding simultaneously. Each lesson progresses from word-by-word analysis to complete idiomatic expression, ensuring comprehensive understanding at every level.
Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London) has been creating online language learning materials since 2006. His work with the Latinum Institute has pioneered accessible, self-directed language learning resources for Latin, Greek, and modern languages. His approach combines classical pedagogical methods with modern accessibility, making rigorous language study available to independent learners worldwide.
Founded on principles of open access to classical education, the Latinum Institute provides comprehensive language learning materials for autodidacts. The Institute's resources have been used by thousands of independent learners globally, from students preparing for examinations to lifelong learners pursuing personal enrichment.
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Evan der Millner's work has been featured in various online classical education forums and distance learning platforms -
The Latinum Institute's YouTube channel (established 2007) offers complementary audio resources -
The pedagogical method is detailed at latinum.substack.com with regular updates and supplementary materials -
Additional resources and community support available through the Latinum Institute's online platforms
This structured approach to language learning, refined over nearly two decades of online education, provides autodidacts with the tools needed for successful independent study. The combination of interlinear translation, cultural context, and literary examples creates a comprehensive learning experience that bridges the gap between textbook study and authentic language use.
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