Week 50, Lesson 99, Monday
Read a Chekhov story
Chekhov wrote short, sharp stories about ordinary people. In this one, two old friends are delighted to meet, until one hears the other's rank.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Week 49, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can read an adapted Chekhov story and explain why a character changes.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- The story, retold
- Fatter, thinner
The story, retold
Two old friends at a station. Chekhov names them Misha and Porfiry.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| На вокза́ле встре́тились два дру́га де́тства: то́лстый и то́нкий. | At a station two childhood friends met: a fat one and a thin one. |
| Снача́ла они́ ра́достно вспомина́ли шко́лу. | At first they happily remembered school. |
| Пото́м то́нкий узна́л, что то́лстый — большо́й нача́льник. | Then the thin one found out the fat one was a big boss. |
| То́нкий сра́зу стал о́чень почти́тельным, и разгово́р ко́нчился. | The thin one at once became very deferential, and the conversation ended. |
Fatter, thinner
| Adjective | Comparative |
|---|---|
| то́лстый | то́лще |
| то́нкий | то́ньше |
| молодо́й | моло́же |
| ста́рый | ста́рше |
More irregular comparatives. After them, the genitive can replace чем: то́лще то́нкого.
4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: то́лще, то́ньше
то́лще ends in a long soft щ; то́ньше in a hard ш.
- то́лще [TOL-shche] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- то́ньше [TON'-she] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- Ско́лько лет!It's been years!
- друг де́тстваchildhood friend
- Он узна́л, что …He found out that …
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
вокза́л
railway station
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)друг де́тства
childhood friend
встре́титься
то́лстый, то́нкий
fat, thin
чино́вник
нача́льник
узна́ть, что …
to find out that …
почти́тельно
respectfully
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
Role-play
Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.
You
- Play the thin one: delighted first, then too respectful.
Екатери́на
- Play the fat one, who wants an ordinary chat.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write why the thin man changed.
See a model answer
То́нкий измени́лся, потому́ что узна́л, что его́ друг — большо́й нача́льник.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на together with Homework 99.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can read an adapted Chekhov story and explain why a character changes.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 99 on Tuesday: the story.
I can read an adapted Chekhov story and explain why a character changes.