The Russian language is replete with many rules that govern the correct use and spelling of words. But besides this, a literate person should be able to inflect various words. This topic usually raises many questions and doubts not only among schoolchildren, but also among adults. Especially difficult for most people is the declension of their own names, surnames, geographical names. We will talk about this today in our article.
Toponyms: what is it?
Declination of geographical names is subject to certain rules that you just need to know by heart. Otherwise, you will find a lot of curious cases that will characterize you from a not very good side in front of friends or colleagues.
Quite often, when speaking about the declension of geographical names in the Russian language, we mean toponyms. This term refers to all geographic identifiers in general. This word came to us from the ancient Greek language, it was formed from two different words, meaning "place" and "name" in translation. Now in many information sources the word "place names" is used.
Where can I see the declension rules of toponyms?
Of course, in order to correctly incline geographical names, it is necessary not only to know the rule, but also to apply it to the place. Indeed, quite often even a person who considers himself literate doubts the spelling of a particular word. In this case, special dictionaries will help you, by which you can check the declension of geographical names. Rosenthal Ditmar Elyashevich, for example, created an excellent assistant for students of all ages - "Dictionary of the difficulties of the Russian language." This wonderful guide can also be used by adults who want to improve literacy.
Types of place names
Before you dive into the topic called "The Declination of Geographical Names", it is worthwhile to find out what are toponyms. After all, the rules of their declination change significantly from this. At present, the following types of place names are distinguished in Russian:
- Slavic - these include the original Russian names or those that have long been mastered in the Russian language;
- complex - this type of place name usually consists of two words;
- names of republics;
- foreign - similar names have their own categories, for each of which there is a separate declension rule.
The declension rules of Slavic place names
The declination of geographical names having Slavic roots follows a simple rule: the name always agrees with the word applied to it. These words include:
- town;
- village;
- village;
- street, etc.
In these cases, the toponym is put in the declension of the defining word. For example, you will always say “in the city of Samara” and “in the city of Moscow”. Keep in mind that the defining word "city" almost always leads to the toponym following it. This also applies to exceptions. These include the following cases:
- toponyms that have a different gender with a defining word are not inclined (for example, it will be correct to say - on Salekhard Lake);
- most often, plural place names are not subject to declination (for example, in the village of Topotishchi).
If we talk about street names, then there are their own rules for declining geographical names. The feminine toponym always agrees with the defined word "street". Masculine names in this case are not inclined, compound toponyms obey a similar rule. The following combinations can be cited as an example:
- along the street Cherry Orchards;
- on Kaltuk street;
- to Melodichnaya street.
Toponyms in the form of an adjective are most often inclined: on the Yellow River, at Cape Verde, etc.
Declension of geographical names ending in "o", "e"
For some reason, adults often forget about this rule. Annoying mistakes occur even among well-known TV presenters and journalists. To be considered a competent person, remember that the Slavic toponyms of the middle kind are not inclined in the Russian language. It will be correct to say:
- in the city of Kemerovo;
- near the city of Grodno;
- in the village of Komarkovo.
Oddly enough, but this simple rule always causes a lot of difficulties. Although there is nothing complicated in it, the main thing is to remember the correct spelling.
Toponyms ending in "ov", "ev", "in", "un": declension rules
The declination of geographical names with endings so widespread in the Russian language causes serious confusion. The fact is that the rules for the declension of such toponyms have changed more than once in recent decades. Historically, geographical names with the endings "ov", "ev", "in", "un" have always been declining. For example, a house in Ostashkov or a cottage in Mogilev.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, there was a tendency not to decline similar geographical names. This was due to a series of military operations when, in order to avoid confusion in the reports, names were used only in the nominative case. The military sought to ensure that the toponyms were identical in maps and various orders. Over time, this approach began to be considered the norm and even applied on television.
In recent years, journalism has begun to return to the original form of declining geographical names. But their use in the nominative case is also considered normal and correct.
Complex Slavic place names
The declension of geographic names consisting of several words follows a certain rule. If we are talking about a complex compound toponym, then its first part always tends, regardless of the presence or absence of a defining word. The following names can be cited as an example:
- in Rostov-on-Don;
- in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, etc.
There is one exception to this rule - the name of the city is Gus-Khrustalny. The first part of this complex toponym should not be inclined.
A lot of confusion is caused by the names in which the first part is in the middle kind. According to the rules of the Russian language, it should be subject to obligatory declension, but in recent years there has been a growing tendency towards the immutability of this part. Therefore, for example, both versions of the spelling will be correct: in Orekhovo-Zuev and in Orekhovo-Zuev.
How to persuade toponyms - the names of the republics?
When you do not know how to spell the name of the republic, then remember the rule that we will talk about now. Names ending in "ia" and "her" must be consistent with the word "republic". For example, "in the Republic of Korea" or "from the Republic of Macedonia." But this rule also has its pitfalls, as, incidentally, in many rules of the Russian language.
Official documents exclude the possibility of declining such names, although journalism applies to them the usual rule of the Russian language. The exception applies to the Federal Republic of Germany. By agreement between our countries, it was decided not to decline this name.
In all other cases, the name does not agree with the word "republic" and remains in the nominative case.
Foreign toponyms
It is rather difficult for a Russian person to cope with foreign geographical names. It’s easier to remember which ones are not inclined. So, the list of geographical names that are not subject to declension includes:
- Finnish names
- Georgian and Abkhazian (except for the names of resorts);
- French place names ending with the letter "a";
- complex Italian, Portuguese and Spanish place names;
- administrative-territorial units.
You can declare only names ending in "a" and mastered in Russian. For example, in Verona and from Ankara. French names can be inflected only when they have acquired the ending "a" in Russian sound.
If foreign geographical names end in "e", "s", "and", "o", then they are classified as non-declining. There are a great many examples of this rule:
- in Tokyo;
- from Mexico City;
- to Santiago.
An exception are names that in the Russian language have a plural formed from a foreign language word. For example, it is correct to write "in the Himalayas."
Declensions of first and last names
Many believe that the declension of geographical names and proper names have common rules. This is not entirely true. Of course, the rules have a lot in common, but in reality they are not identical.
Most often, the correct declension of first and last names, geographical names raises a lot of questions in the spring and summer, when graduates graduate from school and receive certificates. The spelling of toponyms and proper names in diplomas is quite common. Avoiding these unpleasant moments will help knowledge of the rules of the Russian language. Let's look at the main points of the rule.
Declination of standard surnames
Declining standard surnames is quite simple - they become intuitive in the desired form. But in the case when the surname was borrowed from a foreign language and ends in "ov", "in", then in the instrumental case it will have the ending "om". For example, the surname Green in the instrumental case will sound like Green.
Often questions arise with the declension of female surnames with the ending "ina." In this case, it all depends on the nominative case of the male surname. For example, before us is Andrei Zhemchuzhina. The surname of his wife Julia will be declined as a common noun. For example, the things of Julia Pearls. If the husband’s name is Andrey Zhemchuzhin, then in this case we will talk about things of Julia Zhemchuzhina.
Non-standard surnames: how to persuade?
It was previously believed that the declension of a surname is primarily affected by the gender of a person. But in fact, the predominant factor here is the end of the surname. It all depends on him in the first place.
Surnames ending in:
- "e";
- "and";
- "about";
- "y";
- "s";
- "e";
- "Yu";
- "s";
- "them".
Male surnames ending in a consonant are declining. If the surname ends with "I" and there is also a vowel letter, then the surname must be declined. In a similar case, with the ending "a", the surname refers to non-declining ones.
Of course, the Russian language is not so simple. But if you remember a few of the rules we listed, you will never blush due to misspelling of geographical names and proper names.