Motion Verbs

[lady-of-the-sea.livejournal.com]

In my independent study right now, we're studying motion verbs for the whole first half of this semester. And it's not going terribly, I just wish it hadn't taken so incredibly long for us to start learning them. I know they're complicated, but putting it off until the fourth year, in my opinion, makes it a lot more difficult to get the hang of.
This got me wondering, are there any little (or long!) poems, or memory things that Russian children are taught, to help them remember when to use what? I know in English we have some little songs, and rhymes, and mnemonic devices about grammar and spelling - are there any for motion verbs in Russian?

Спасибо!

Comments

[oryx_and_crake]

Sorry, I don't think you'll find anything like that. These things come naturally to native speakers - in the same way, you probably would not hesitate when using singular and plural, or present and past tenses of verbs, etc. You just don't need any mnemonics for that.

[lady-of-the-sea.livejournal.com]

Thank you :) I thought I might not find anything, but it was worth a try!

Do not worry about motion verbs.

[lingosteve.livejournal.com]

I have been studying Russian on my own for a little over 2 years, an hour a day on average, mostly just listening. The main thing is that I understand. I have no trouble with most content on such programs as Echo Moskvi.

When I speak I just use whatever verb of motion comes to mind. Sometimes I get it right and sometimes I don't. The same is true of cases, and verb aspect etc.. If you listen enough you will gradually get better at these things.

I find that my brain is impervious to the explanations but will pick up patterns if exposed to them often enough.What is more the brain will not learn it just because it is taught, or because you spend an evening reviewing it.

Re: Do not worry about motion verbs.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_christine/]

This is very true. I really didn't understand verbs of motion beyond the theory of when and how they are - I can recite the explanation as well as the next person, but in practice they didn't come naturally until I was studying in Russia. I just started listening to which verbs the native speakers around me were using when they were in which situations and mimicked that. So now I know which is a уехать and which is a поехать and so forth. You really must be in the context, in my humble opinion, to pick it up.

Re: Do not worry about motion verbs.

[lady-of-the-sea.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) I guess I was hoping to find something that would help me put them in context, since I do not often get to see them used in their natural habitat.

Re: Do not worry about motion verbs.

[lady-of-the-sea.livejournal.com]

I do understand what's meant when I hear them, but I'm unfortunately never in a position where I am able to listen to native speakers enough to get the patterns right. A month in St. Petersburg just wasn't enough, considering that the only people I had opportunities to spend time with were also non-native speakers. What do you use for listening practice?

I wish I could just use whichever one comes to mind, but unfortunately that won't help me on my test tomorrow.

Re: Do not worry about motion verbs.

[lingosteve.livejournal.com]

My preferred source of listening material right now is Echo Moskvi.I also listen to audio books for which I can find the e-text at http://az.lib.ru/.. There are also sources for easier cntent. It depends on your level.

Test? That is just one of the disadvantages of studying at a school rather than on your own.

Re: Do not worry about motion verbs.

[pinky-the-cow.livejournal.com]

If you happen to be interested in "EM" radio mentioned by lingosteve above — there's a nice internet broadcasting service of it (http://www.moskva.fm/stations/FM_91.2) (Прямой эфир stands for Live, just in case) at moskva.fm. Among other radio stations', too.

As for the original question, I don't think there are any mnemonics. Just silly jokes come to mind. Not that helpful in learning.

Like this:

Учитель:
— Вовочка, проспрягай глагол "идти".
Вовочка, медленно:
— Я — иду-у, он идё-ёт, они иду-ут--
Учитель:
— Побыстрее.
Вовочка:
— Я — бегу, он — бежит, они — бегут…

And another one:

— Вовочка, проспрягай фразу «я иду по ковру».
— Я — иду по ковру; вы — идёте, пока врёте; он — идёт, пока врёт…

If you don't get them, but want to, I'll explain. Although, they're probably not even the motion verbs you needed >_<

Re: Do not worry about motion verbs.

[lady-of-the-sea.livejournal.com]

Woops, sorry about the delay in responding. Would you mind explaining the jokes? Mostly I understand them, but not enough to get why they're funny XD

And thanks for the link! I've had other radio programs in the past (AllRadio, etc.) that I just can't keep working on my computer. That one hasn't even skipped since I started listening!

Re: Do not worry about motion verbs.

[pinky-the-cow.livejournal.com]

The first one is easier to understand when it's performed. Well, the teacher asks for Vovochka not to recite things painfully slow. Vovochka changes the verb to the "faster" one instead. "Идти" means "to walk", "бежать" means "to run".

In the second one Vovochka mistakes similarly sounding "я иду по ковру" (I walk along the carpet) with "я иду, пока вру" (~I walk as long as I tell lies).

They are not the epitomes of humor so they're of mild fun. The abruptness with which one realizes that an order to spell faster can actually be misunderstood that way. And the unexpected manifestation of an another, less sensible, but plausible phrase of pretty close sounding. Those things are often greeted with giggles from the audience.

Re: Do not worry about motion verbs.

[lady-of-the-sea.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I like those. Silly puns always make me smile. Thanks! :)