Reasons, questions and connected messages

Link a few sentences so someone understands the reason, order and people involved.

A reason · почему, потому что

Почему? asks for a reason. Потому что connects that reason to the main message. Do not reverse what happened and why.

Почему ты дома? — Потому что я болею.: Why are you at home? — Because I am ill.
Я не пойду гулять, потому что я болею.: I will not go for a walk because I am ill.

Time and order · когда, сначала, потом

Когда links events in time. Сначала and потом show their order. They do not, by themselves, explain the reason.

Когда урок закончится, я позвоню тебе.: When the lesson ends, I will call you.
Сначала я поем, потом сделаю задание.: First I will eat, then I will do the task.

Questions and references

Keep the question tied to the answer: где? — дома; куда? — домой. In a longer message, use a pronoun only when it is clear who it refers to.

Я не знаю, где Оля. — Она дома.: I do not know where Olya is. — She is at home.
Куда Оля идёт? — Она идёт домой.: Where is Olya going? — She is going home.

Negation · не, никто, никого

Russian keeps не with a negative pronoun in these sentences: никто не пришёл, я никого не вижу. Это не мой билет denies ownership; it does not say there is no ticket.

В комнате никто не сидит.: Nobody is sitting in the room.
Я никого не вижу.: I do not see anybody.
Билет есть, но это не мой билет.: There is a ticket, but it is not mine.

Check the difference

Read eight short situations and choose the answer that fits.

Write the word form

Complete five short messages or sentences.

Change the meeting using a notice

Use a short notice to rearrange a meeting.