In Russian, you don’t usually need to say the verb "to be" when chatting in the present tense.

But it’s still good to know how to use it for making sentences, especially when talking about the past or the future.

Basic Sentences in the Present Tense

1. Forming Sentences: To create a simple sentence, just put a noun next to an adjective. For example:

   • Я студент. (Ya student.) – I am a student.
   • Она умная. (Ona umnaya.) – She is smart.

2. Understanding Structure: In these sentences, the noun is the subject, and the adjective describes it. Sometimes, you can skip the verb when speaking casually:

   • “В Москве.” (V Moskve.) – In Moscow. (This means "I am in Moscow.")

Using "to be" in Past and Future Tenses

1. Past Tense: To talk about the past, use "был" (býl) for boys and "была" (bělá) for girls:

   • Он был там. (On byl tam.) – He was there.
   • Она была там. (Ona byla tam.) – She was there.

2. Future Tense: To say something about the future, use "буду" (bóodu) when you talk about yourself:

   • Я буду дома. (Ya budu doma.) – I will be home.

Practice Vocabulary

• Useful Nouns:

  • Студент (student)
  • Песня (song)
  • Книга (book)

• Helpful Adjectives:

  • Умный (smart for boys)
  • Прекрасный (beautiful for boys)
  • Интересная (interesting for girls)

Making Simple Sentences

You can mix nouns and adjectives to make sentences that work. Here are some examples:

• Эта книга интересная. (Eta kniga interesnaya.) – This book is interesting.
• Ты студент? (Ty student?) – Are you a student?

Cultural Context

Knowing how to use "to be" helps you see how Russians show existence or identity in a simple way. In casual chatting, skipping the verb makes it easier to communicate.

Try practicing these sentences with your friends. Listen to how the words are pronounced and where the strong sounds are. You can also use flashcards for new words and check dictionaries or translation apps if you need help.