і, а, але, бо, таму, каб, калі - the words that turn a list of short sentences into connected speech, and the two that Russian speakers reach for in the wrong order.
I can join clauses with the right conjunction, give a reason either way round, and use каб for purpose.
Schau dir diese Beispiele an. Kannst du das grammatische Muster erkennen?
Кватэра малая, але вельмі светлая.
The flat is small but very light.
Я чытаю, а ён піша.
I am reading and he is writing.
Сёння не іду на працу, бо хворы.
I am not going to work today because I am ill.
Я хворы, таму сёння не іду.
I am ill, so I am not going today.
Achte auf die hervorgehobenen Teile. Was haben sie gemeinsam?
| Conjunction | Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| і | and | хлеб і соль |
| а | and, but - mild contrast | Я чытаю, а ён піша |
| але | but - real contrast | Малая, але светлая |
| ці | or | чай ці кава |
| бо | because | Не іду, бо хворы |
| таму | so, therefore | Хворы, таму не іду |
| каб | in order to, so that | Прыйшоў, каб дапамагчы |
| калі | when, if | Калі будзе час, паедзем |
А sets two things side by side without conflict - it is closer to English "and" or "whereas". Але marks a real objection.
These give the same information in opposite order. Бо introduces the cause and comes second; таму introduces the result and comes second:
When the two halves have different subjects, каб is followed by a past-tense form, however the sentence is meant in time:
With one subject it takes the infinitive: Прыйшоў, каб дапамагчы.
Belarusian puts a comma before а, але, бо, таму, каб, калі - always. Before a single і joining two words there is none.
Wende diese Grammatik in den Übungen des Kurses A2 an
ÜbungsaufgabenTypical errors: using але where а belongs, which makes an ordinary contrast sound like an objection; and putting a present or future after каб when the subjects differ.
Using но, потому что, или instead of але, бо, ці
The Belarusian words are але, бо and ці.
Using але for a neutral pairing
А sets things side by side; але marks a real objection.
Using a present or future after каб with different subjects
Каб takes the past-tense form: каб ты прыйшоў.
Omitting the comma before а, але, бо, таму, каб, калі
It is always written.
Кватэра малая, але вельмі светлая.
The flat is small but very light.
<em>Але</em> for a real contrast - the second half pushes back on the first.
Я чытаю, а ён піша.
I am reading and he is writing.
<em>А</em> sets two things side by side without conflict.
Сёння не іду на працу, бо хворы.
I am not going to work today because I am ill.
<em>Бо</em> introduces the cause in one short word.
Я хворы, таму сёння не іду.
I am ill, so I am not going today.
The same information as the previous example, with cause and result the other way round.
Я хачу, каб ты прыйшоў у суботу.
I want you to come on Saturday.
Different subjects, so <em>каб</em> takes the past-tense form <em>прыйшоў</em> even though it is about the future.
Im Kurs üben
Wende diese Grammatik in den Übungen des Kurses A2 an