Это and вот: 'this is' and 'here is'

A1 — Местоимения

Это = this is, Вот = here is, demonstrative constructions

Can identify objects using это/вот and form questions with что это

Examples

Что э́то? — Э́то кни́га. — What is this? — This is a book.
Вот ваш паспо́рт. — Here is your passport.
Э́то не моя́ су́мка. — This is not my bag.

PronounsA1

Это and вот: 'this is' and 'here is'

Это = this is, Вот = here is, demonstrative constructions

Learning Goal

Can identify objects using это/вот and form questions with что это

Exam Skills:Speaking

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Что э́то? — Э́то кни́га.

What is this? — This is a book.

Вот ваш паспо́рт.

Here is your passport.

Э́то не моя́ су́мка.

This is not my bag.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Two tiny words do a lot of work in your first Russian sentences: э́то ("this is, that is, it's") and вот ("here is, there is", the word you say while pointing or handing something over).

Word	Meaning	Example
э́то	this is / that is / it is	Э́то кни́га. (This is a book.) Э́то мой брат. (This is my brother.)
вот	here is / there is (look!)	Вот кни́га. (Here's the book.) Вот мой дом. (There's my house.)

это does not change

In "this is + noun", э́то stays the same whatever follows: Э́то стол, Э́то ла́мпа, Э́то окно́, Э́то мои́ друзья́. It does not agree in gender or number, much like French c'est.

Do not mix it up with э́тот / э́та / э́то / э́ти, "this" in front of a noun, which does agree: э́тот стол (this table), э́та ла́мпа (this lamp). Compare:

Э́то кни́га. This is a book. (a full sentence)
Э́та кни́га интере́сная. This book is interesting. (э́та agrees with кни́га)

Questions and negation

Что э́то? What is this? Кто э́то? Who is this? Russian uses кто for people and also for animals: Кто э́то? - Э́то наш кот Ба́рсик.
Э́то не чай, э́то квас. This isn't tea, it's kvass. The не goes before the word it denies.

вот in everyday use

Вот is what a waiter says putting down your borscht (Вот ваш борщ), and what you say handing over your passport (Вот, пожа́луйста). It points; it does not describe. "This is a museum" in a guidebook sense is Э́то музе́й, not Вот музе́й.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Learners try to make 'это' agree in gender. 🇬🇧 English speakers: Confuse это (this is) with этот/эта/это (this).

Что э́то? — Э́то кни́га.

What is this? — This is a book.

Это is invariable — doesn't change for gender.

Вот ваш паспо́рт.

Here is your passport.

Вот = here is, pointing to something concrete.

Э́то не моя́ су́мка.

This is not my bag.

Negation: Это + не + noun.

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Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

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Frequently asked questions

When do you use Это and вот: 'this is' and 'here is'?: Two tiny words do a lot of work in your first Russian sentences: э́то ("this is, that is, it's") and вот ("here is, there is", the word you say while pointing or handing something over).
How do you form Это and вот: 'this is' and 'here is'?: In "this is + noun", э́то stays the same whatever follows: Э́то стол , Э́то ла́мпа , Э́то окно́ , Э́то мои́ друзья́ . It does not agree in gender or number, much like French c'est . Do not mix it up with э́тот / э́та / э́то / э́ти , "this" in front of a noun, which does agree: э́тот стол (this table), э́та ла́мпа (this lamp). Compare: Вот is what a waiter says putting down your borscht ( Вот ваш борщ ), and what you say handing over your passport ( Вот, пожа́луйста ). It points; it does not describe. "This is a museum" in a guidebook sense is Э́то музе́й , not Вот музе́й .
What are common mistakes with Это and вот: 'this is' and 'here is'?: Learners try to make 'это' agree in gender. 🇬🇧 English speakers: Confuse это (this is) with этот/эта/это (this).

Word

Meaning

Example

э́то

this is / that is / it is

Э́то кни́га. (This is a book.)
Э́то мой брат. (This is my brother.)

вот

here is / there is (look!)

Вот кни́га. (Here's the book.)
Вот мой дом. (There's my house.)

Frequently asked questions

When do you use Это and вот: 'this is' and 'here is'?

Two tiny words do a lot of work in your first Russian sentences: э́то ("this is, that is, it's") and вот ("here is, there is", the word you say while pointing or handing something over).

How do you form Это and вот: 'this is' and 'here is'?

In "this is + noun", э́то stays the same whatever follows: Э́то стол , Э́то ла́мпа , Э́то окно́ , Э́то мои́ друзья́ . It does not agree in gender or number, much like French c'est . Do not mix it up with э́тот / э́та / э́то / э́ти , "this" in front of a noun, which does agree: э́тот стол (this table), э́та ла́мпа (this lamp). Compare: Вот is what a waiter says putting down your borscht ( Вот ваш борщ ), and what you say handing over your passport ( Вот, пожа́луйста ). It points; it does not describe. "This is a museum" in a guidebook sense is Э́то музе́й , not Вот музе́й .

What are common mistakes with Это and вот: 'this is' and 'here is'?

Learners try to make 'это' agree in gender. 🇬🇧 English speakers: Confuse это (this is) with этот/эта/это (this).