Week 18, Lesson 36, Friday
Give directions: the command form
Directions are commands: go, turn, cross. The command form is built from a form you already know, the они form.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Monday, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can give and follow directions, and make the command form of verbs I know.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- Directions
- Making the command form
- Out and about
Directions
Four arrows, four words. Every set of directions is built from them.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Идите прямо. | Go straight on. |
| Поверните направо / налево. | Turn right / left. |
| Перейдите улицу. | Cross the street. |
| Поезжайте на метро. | Take the metro. |
направо is where to; справа is where: Поверните направо: аптека будет справа.
Making the command form
| они | ты | вы |
|---|---|---|
| читают | читай | читайте |
| слушают | слушай | слушайте |
| говорят | говори | говорите |
| смотрят | смотри | смотрите |
| пишут | пиши | пишите |
Take the они form and drop its ending. After a vowel add -й; after a consonant add -и. For вы, add -те.
Out and about
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Извините, как пройти к аптеке? | Excuse me, how do I get to the pharmacy? |
| Идите прямо до банка, потом поверните налево. | Go straight on to the bank, then turn left. |
| Аптека будет справа. | The pharmacy will be on the right. |

4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: Friendly commands fall
A friendly command falls gently at the end. Said sharply, it sounds rude.
- Иди́те пря́мо. [i-DI-tye PRYA-ma]
- Поверни́те нале́во. [pa-vir-NI-tye na-LYE-va]
Listen to the textbook
The book's own recordings for this topic, free on the publisher's site. Listen once for the gist, then again with the book open.
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- Иди́те пря́мо.Go straight on.
- Поверни́те напра́во.Turn right.
- Вы не ска́жете, …?Could you tell me …?
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
пря́мо
straight on
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)напра́во, нале́во
to the right, to the left
обра́тно
Иди́те!
Go! (on foot)
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)Поверни́те!
Перейди́те у́лицу!
Cross the street!
Поезжа́йте!
Go! (by transport)
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)у́лица
у ба́нка
at the bank
6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
Role-play
Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.
You
- Give directions from the metro to a café.
- Give three classroom commands: Говорите медленно! Повторите!
Ника
- Follow your directions on a map and ask when she is lost.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write directions from the metro to a café.
See a model answer
Идите прямо. Потом поверните налево. Кафе будет справа.
Saved as you type. It goes to Ника together with Homework 36.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can give and follow directions, and make the command form of verbs I know.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 36 on Monday: directions and the command form.
I can give and follow directions, and make the command form of verbs I know.