chess pieces piled up next to a Russian typewriter

Practice exercises for Russian comparison words

By: Aleks Novikov
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These activities are part of our Russian Grammar series. The skills we are practicing here are covered in our article:

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Activity 1: “More” and “less” comparisons

Rewrite each sentence below by replacing the genitive of comparison with чем[chem](than) + nominative case. Do not forget to add the comma before чем!

Rewrite each sentence below by replacing the genitive of comparison with чем[chem](than) + nominative case. Do not forget to add the comma before чем!

  • genitive of comparison

    Для многих в России Новый год важнее Рождества.

    dlya MNOgikh v raSEEi NOvyi got vazhNYEye razhdistVA.

    For many in Russia New Year is a more important holiday than Christmas.

    .

  • genitive of comparison

    Рыбалка ему нравилась гораздо больше охоты.

    ryBALka yiMOO NRAvilas gaRAZda BOLshe aKHOty.

    He liked fishing much more than hunting.

    .

  • genitive of comparison

    Обычно февраль в Москве холоднее остальных месяцев.

    aBYCHna fivRAL v maskVYE khaladNYEye astalNYKH MYEsitsev.

    Usually February in Moscow is colder than other months.

    .

  • genitive of comparison

    Её любовь к спорту оказалась сильнее любви к сладкому.

    yiYO lyuBOF k SPORtoo akaZAlas silNYEye lyubVEE k SLATkamoo.

    Her love for sport turned out to be stronger than her love for sweets.

    .

Activity 2: Animal similes in Russian

Fill in the blanks by adding one word from each group:

  • Any of these interchangeable conjunctions meaning “like” or “as if”:

    • как[kak]

    • будто[BOOta]

    • словно[SLOVna]

    • точно[TOCHna]

  • The correct animal, given the context:

    • акула[aKOOla](shark)

    • лев[lyef](lion)

    • змея[zmiYA](snake)

    • мышка[MYSHka](mouse)

Try to use each word once, and make sure to use the correct case!

  • Он сражался отважно , но силы были неравны.

    He was fighting fearlessly _____ _____ but the forces were unequal.

    лев is in the nominative case

  • Он играл с ней кошка с .

    He played with her _____ a cat with _____.

    мышкой is in the instrumental case

  • Он поднял упавший ремень палкой .

    He picked the fallen belt up with a stick _____ _____.

    змею is in the accusative case

  • У него был холодный и равнодушный у взгляд.

    His gaze was cold and indifferent _____ _____.

    акулы is in the genitive case

Activity 3: More similes

Fill in the blanks by adding one word from each group:

  • Any of the interchangeable conjunctions meaning “kind or like” or “in the fashion of”:

    • типа[TEEpa]

    • наподобие[napaDObii]

    • вроде[VROdi]

  • One of the phrases below, put into the genitive case:

    • средневековый замок[sridniviKOvyi ZAmak](medieval castle)

    • русская матрёшка[ROOSkaya matRYOSHka](Russian matryoshka doll)

    • чёрный кот[CHORnyi kot](black cat)

    • французский берет[franTSOOSkiy biRYET](French beret)

Try to use each word once!

  • Она носила на голове что-то .

    She wore something _____ _____ on her head.

  • Михаил построил себе дом .

    Mikhail built a house for himself _____ _____.

  • Этот набор мебели можно сложить .

    The furniture could be folded _____ _____.

  • Они увидели в кустах животное .

    They saw in the bushes some animal _____ _____.

Activity 4: Complete the comparison

Complete the sentences below with one of the phrases from the box.

будто кто-то специально испёк их к нашему приходу
чем я ожидал
точно его только что покрасили
чем житель средневековья получал за год
как будто понимала каждое слово
  1. Собака смотрела внимательно, .

  2. Translation: The dog was watching carefully as if it understood every word.

  3. Машина оказалась в лучшем состоянии, .

  4. Translation: The car turned out to be in better shape than I expected.

  5. Человек сейчас в неделю получает больше информации, .

  6. Translation: A person now gets more information in a week than a medieval person got in a year.

  7. В доме вкусно пахло булочками, .

  8. Translation: In the house, it smelled nice with rolls, as if someone baked them specially for our arrival.

  9. Пол блестел, .

  10. Translation: The floor was shining as if it was just painted.

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