Problem with "то"

[kragoth.livejournal.com]

Hello,

As part of my studies, I've finally ran across a word I've seen a million times, but never translated. The word "то". I fret over it because I've seen it used randomly (Or so it seems) and I don't understand how it can be translated to get it's meaning. I'm quite aware it means "Then, What, This, That"...but it looks like a demonstrative, but also another form of что, and on top of that, it is used to show what happens as a result.

Если вы не пойдете, то я пойду (From yandex)
If you don't go, then I will

То-то же! (Yandex)
Now you understand!

то был, то была, то было (Yandex)
That was

он узнал то, что ему надо (Yandex)
He learned what he wanted to know (needed)

Comments

[kragoth.livejournal.com]

You. Are. My. Hero. No one could have explained it better than you...on this forum. And, as a bonus, (I read this this morning, but I'm replying now) I actually used òî in a sentence today. I like it a lot. That is all.

-Matt (Scourcher of all that is beetle-like)

[brocster.livejournal.com]

You're more than welcome. I'm glad I could be of some assistance. : )

I have a special treat for you -- "All You Ever Wanted to Know about Russian то but Were Afraid to Ask" (or, perhaps, didn't even know to ask!) -- a contribution from an anonymous (but extremely well-versed) authority on Russian. Enjoy! : )

- Andrew
***********************

The Complete "TO" Guide for Russian Learners

==== Pronoun

1. то: neuter form of the pronoun "тот" / "that" (as opposed to "этот" / "this")

2. не то: colloquial = not that (at all), something wrong, not the one needed/wanted/expected
"Это всё не то!" --
- Тебе понравилось платье?
- Нет, что-то в нём не то.

3. "самое то": colloquial - could be described as an antonym to "не то" = exactly what was needed/wanted/expected.
- Попробуй вот это.
- О, самое то! - Great

4. "то же самое": the same
- Попробуй теперь вот это.
- Но это же то же самое! [the first же here just adds emphasis to the statement]

5. "то ли ещё будет": colloquial ~ this is not the worst of it, it could still get even worse than it already is
- Жить стало совсем невыносимо...
- То ли ещё будет!

6. "То ещё" : colloquial, denotes a sarcastic, ironic (negative) judgment аbout something.
"To eщё счастье у них!"

==== Conjunction

7. если..., то...: "if..., then..."
Eсли на улице темно, то не ходи" Used in conditional sentences, always at the beginning of the main (non-conditional) clause.

8. то ..., то...: repeating conjunction, used to indicate repetition or alternation of two people, actions, etc.
"То один, то другой".
"То снег, то дождь".

9. И то: conjunction (colloquial) = "к тому же", "при этом" (also, and even, "at that")
"У него только один костюм, и то плохой"

10. а то / не то / a не то: conjunction (colloquial) = or else
"Поторопись, а то (не то) (а не то) опоздаем"

11. не то..., не то... / то ли..., то ли... : repeating conjunction (colloquial) - indicates contrast, especially in cases of uncertainty, indecision, etc.
"To ли oн придет сегодня, то ли нет"
"Не то синий, не то зеленый"

12. не то что (чтобы)..., а (но)...: conjunction. Similar to #5
"Не то чтобы я болен, но как-то устал"

13. то есть (commonly abbreviated in writing as "т.е.", archaic form: "то бишь"): conjunction = that is (= i.e.), used for clarification, specification.
"До города 50 км, то есть час езды"

... continued in next post ...

[kragoth.livejournal.com]

I'm amazed. So many things with TO, I think I'll slip a few into my conversation. I'm keeping this in my email for a reference.

[brocster.livejournal.com]

==== Particle

(#13 continued)
то есть: particle, colloquial, used when asking to clarify or specify something just said, usually with astonishment.
- Я не еду.
- То есть как это не едешь?!

14. то и дело / то и знай (colloquial) = quite often, regularly, continuously; from time to time
"To и дело звонит телефон"

15. то ли дело: colloquial, expresses opposition to the preceding statement, means "much better", "quite different".
"Зимой здесь скучно, то ли дело летом"

16. -то: particle connected to the preceding word for emphasis.
"Ночь-то какая теплая!"
"Властью-то облечен, да дурак!"
"Где-то он сейчас?" , not to be confused with the adverb "где-то" meaning "somewhere")

17. -то: particle connected to preceding pronouns when referring to unknown/general items in a list of actions, objects, characteristics.
"Он рассказал, что был там-то и там-то, делал то-то и то-то"

The end.

[kragoth.livejournal.com]

Thanks. The "Òî ëè äåëî" will be quite useful. :-)