Russian for English speakers Sports · Lesson 4

When I was little...

Russian past tense reflection — Когда я был маленьким... (When I was little...) — with был + instrumental.

Conversation

  1. Bolin Bolin

    Когда я был маленький, я занимался атлетикой

    Kogda ja byl malenʹkij, ja zanimalsja atletikoj

    When I was little, I did athletics.

  2. Pishi Pishi

    Здорово, значит, ты хорошо бегаешь и прыгаешь

    Zdorovo, značit, ty horošo begaešʹ i prygaešʹ

    Great, so you are good at running and jumping.

  3. Bolin Bolin

    Да. Теперь я бегаю в парке по утрам

    Da. Teperʹ ja begaju v parke po utram

    Yes. Now I run in the park in the mornings.

  4. Pishi Pishi

    И ходишь в спортзал, конечно

    I hodišʹ v sportzal, konečno

    And you go to the gym, of course.

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'when I was little' in Russian?

Когда я был маленьким (m) / была маленькой (f). Был/была + instrumental adjective.

What does маленький mean?

'Small / little'. As predicate: 'I was small/young'. Used metaphorically for being young.

Russian childhood vocabulary?

Детство (childhood), детский сад (kindergarten), школа (school), друзья (friends), игрушки (toys).

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Russian lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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