Verbs Which Must be Followed by an Object

The verbs enable and allow, unlike Russian позволить, must be followed by an object. If you cannot insert him, her, it or them, позволить can be translated make it possible, or an active construction can be turned into a passive one:

• Принятие новых нормативных актов позволит решить названные проблемы.: The adoption of new regulations will make k possible (enable us) to solve these problems.

• ..., что позволит сэкономить 2 млн. кВт.ч. в год электроэнергии: ... which could save 2 million kWh electricity per year.

• Применение новейших технологий позволило компании значительно снизить себестоимость выпускаемой продукции, упростить и ускорить монтаж, в 4-5 раз увеличить срок ее службы.: The company's use of the latest technology has cut production costs considerably, increased the service life of the products by four to five times, and made the products much easier and quicker to mount.

The verbs tell, inform, notify and remind must always be followed by an object:

• сообщить о: inform him (her, you, etc.) of + noun, or that + phrase

• Он сказал...: He told me, or He said...

• Расскажите немного о себе.: Tell us a little about yourself.

However, the verb advise may be used without an object and in formal English often has the sense of "inform":

♦ Сообщаем, что...: Please be advised that... / We are writing to inform you that... (in letters; or this phrase may be left out altogether)

The verbs позволить and сообщить are very frequently used in Russian, and believe me, it will make such a difference to your translations if you remember this rule!

You cannot be simply "invited" in English; you have to be invited to something or to see someone.

♦ Вас приглашает Назарбаев.: Nazarbayev wants to see you (summons), or Nazarbayev would like you to come and see him (more polite invitation).

Gerund or Infinitive?

Verbs like propose, suggest and recommend must be followed by a gerund (or new phrase), not an infinitive:

• He suggested signing/that we sign (not "he suggested to sign").

• He recommended signing/that we sign... (not "he recommended to sign...")

Other verbs that take a gerund:

♦ look forward to (receiving)

The constructions for demand, ask and require are different:

• He demanded that we sign...

• He asked/required us to sign...

The word possibility must also be followed by of + gerund, not an infinitive. Opportunity, however, takes the Infinitive.

• возможность делать: the possibility of doing sth. or opportunity to do sth.

• возможность регистрации устава: the possibility of registering the charter (not "of registration of the charter").

Adjectives that take a gerund:

♦ способный + Inf.: capable of doing sth. (but able to do sth.) Choice of Tense

The present perfect tense is used to describe happenings that are still "fresh":

♦ Новое предприятие открылось в Уральске. (This is news, and the business is still operating): A new business has opened in Uralsk.

However, the present perfect cannot be used in sentences where the time/date of the action is mentioned. Here the simple past is correct:

♦ Новое предприятие открылось в Уральске не так давно.: A new business recently opened in Uralsk. (This is news, the factory is still operating, but the sentence happens to contain the word "recently".)

[But then why...??]

♦ Мельница за последние годы была полностью реконструирована.: The mill has been totally reconstructed over the last few years/in recent years.

Compare these two sentences which both appeared in a document dated 12 May 1997:

• The deadline was extended to 1 June 1996. (Describing something which happened in the past.)

• The deadline has been extended until 30 May 1997. (Referring to a date which is still in the future.)

The simple past indicates that the action is over and done with...

♦ Программа проводилась с августа 1998 до декабря 1998 года: The programme was conducted from August to December 1998. (It has finished.)

.. .whereas the present perfect indicates that the action is still continuing (here Russian uses the present tense):

• Программа проводится с 2001 года: The programme has been conducted since 2001. (It is still going on.)

3a 1992-1998 годы Вооруженные Силы были перестроены, а с 1999 года началась их кардинальная реформа.: The armed forces were restructured during 1992-1998, but from 1999 onwards they have been radically reformed.

Present in Russian, present perfect in English: need explanation

♦ Казахстан на протяжении последних семи лет намного опережает остальные страны СНГ по...: Over the last seven years Kazakhstan has far outstripped the other CIS countries in terms of...

In British English the present perfect tense is always used in constructions with not yet, still not and already. American English may permit exceptions, but it is better to observe the rule to be safe.

♦ [Russian??] This obligation has still not been fulfilled.

The present tense is mostly used in newspaper headlines, even if the event is in the past:

♦ Журналистам рассказали, что такое бедность: Journalists Are Told What Poverty Is

(also note the absence of articles)

Remember, the word if and similar phrases are almost never followed by the future tense, as would seem logical.

• [Russian??] The tariffs will be acceptable to the company if certain costs are included therein.

• [Russian??] provided that the quality of the goods is not lower than the quality of goods manufactured by the Licensor.

• Как только мы получим документы: As soon as we receive (or have received) the documents... (not "will receive").

This is also the case with the word after followed by an event that is to happen in the future:

♦ После предоставления всех документов...: After all the documents have been submitted, (we will...)

Should you happen to come across a rare sighting of "if you will" in an English text, bear in mind that it almost certainly means "if you are willing to".

Try not to forget the rules for tenses in indirect speech. We really do talk like this!

• Я категорически отказался, мотивируя тем, что занимаюсь сложным делом.: I absolutely refused, saying that I was involved in some complex work.

• Я не понимал, что происходит.: I didn't understand what was going on.

• Еще 5-7 лет назад никто не мог предположить, что национальная атомная компания (НАК) «Казатомпром» зарегистрируется на фондовой бирже и выпустит облигации.: Five or seven years ago nobody could have imagined that Kazatomprom, the national nuclear company, would be listed on the stock exchange and issuing bonds.

Present Participles

Sometimes the English present participle cannot be used [WHY??]:

♦ контрольно-аналитическая система, следящая за полетом мяча: a control system, which tracks the flight of the ball

When a present participle is negative, use without rather than "not":

♦ Поклонники гольфа, не дожидаясь начала нового сезона, уже сейчас могут потренироваться на гольф-симуляторе.: Golf-lovers can now train on a golf simulator without waiting for the new season to begin.