Russian Grammar

Russian grammar (Russian: грамматика русского языка; ; also русская грамматика; ) encompasses:

  • a highly synthetic morphology
  • a syntax that, for the literary language, is the conscious fusion of three elements:
    • a Church Slavonic inheritance;
    • a Western European style;
    • a polished vernacular foundation.

The Russian language has preserved an Indo-European synthetic-inflexional structure, although considerable adaption has taken place.

The spoken language has been influenced by the literary one, but it continues to preserve some characteristic forms. Russian dialects show various non-standard grammatical features, some of which are archaisms or descendants of old forms discarded by the literary language.

NOTE: In the discussion below, various terms are used in the meaning they have in standard Russian discussions of historical grammar. In particular, aorist, imperfect, etc. are considered verbal tenses rather than aspects, because ancient examples of them are attested for both perfective and imperfective verbs.

Read more about Russian Grammar:  Nouns, Adjectives, Numerals, Verbs, Word Formation, Syntax

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