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Russian Clause Connections 1
Practice subordinate clauses with что, чтобы, если, когда, and coordinating conjunctions
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Browse Sentence Construction practiceQuestion 1
Я знаю, ___ он уже дома.
English context
Complete the sentence «I know that he is already home» with a conjunction introducing reported information.
Options
- что
- чтобы
- если
- когда
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- что
Correct feedback
Correct. Что introduces the content of what is known.
Grammar rule
Что introduces an object/content clause after verbs such as знать: Я знаю, что он дома.
Question 2
Она попросила, ___ мы подождали.
English context
She asked us to wait; the subordinate clause expresses the requested action.
Options
- чтобы
- что
- если
- когда
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- чтобы
Correct feedback
Right. Чтобы introduces the requested action, and подождали is the past-tense form used in this subjunctive construction.
Grammar rule
Чтобы introduces a desired or requested action; with a different subject, it is commonly followed by a past-tense verb form.
Question 3
Если завтра ___ дождь, мы останемся дома.
English context
This is a real condition about tomorrow.
Options
- пойдёт
- шёл бы
- идёт
- пошёл
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- пойдёт
Correct feedback
Correct. A real future condition takes a future verb form in the если-clause.
Grammar rule
For a real future condition, Russian uses если with a future form: Если завтра пойдёт дождь...
Question 4
Когда поезд ___, мы сядем в вагон.
English context
The arrival will happen in the future; use the perfective verb прибыть.
Options
- прибудет
- прибывал
- прибывает
- прибыл бы
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- прибудет
Correct feedback
Exactly. In a future time clause with когда, прибыть has the perfective present form прибудет.
Grammar rule
After когда in a future time clause, a perfective present form commonly expresses a future completed event: Когда поезд прибудет...
Question 5
Я позвоню тебе, когда ___ работу.
English context
The speaker will call after finishing the work; use закончить.
Options
- закончу
- заканчивал
- заканчиваю
- закончил бы
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- закончу
Correct feedback
Correct. The perfective present form закончу refers to the future completion in this time clause.
Grammar rule
Russian uses a perfective present form with future meaning in a когда-clause referring to a future completed action.
Question 6
Он много занимался, ___ сдать экзамен.
English context
The infinitive clause expresses his purpose: «He studied a lot in order to pass the exam.»
Options
- чтобы
- что
- если
- когда
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- чтобы
Correct feedback
That's right. Чтобы plus an infinitive introduces the purpose of studying.
Grammar rule
Чтобы + infinitive commonly expresses purpose when the understood subject of both actions is the same.
Question 7
Я хотел пойти, ___ у меня не было времени.
English context
The second clause contrasts with the wish to go: «I wanted to go, but I had no time.»
Options
- но
- и
- или
- что
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- но
Correct feedback
Correct. Но marks the contrast between wanting to go and not having time.
Grammar rule
Но is a coordinating conjunction that expresses contrast between clauses.
Question 8
Саша читает, ___ сестра готовит.
English context
The clauses describe two simultaneous, contrasting activities: Sasha reads while his sister cooks.
Options
- а
- или
- что
- если
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- а
Correct feedback
Exactly. А links contrasting or juxtaposed facts: one reads, while the other cooks.
Grammar rule
А commonly connects juxtaposed or contrasting clauses, often with the sense «while/whereas».
Question 9
Мы купили хлеб ___ молоко.
English context
Join two items in a simple list: «We bought bread and milk.»
Options
- и
- но
- или
- если
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- и
Correct feedback
Correct. И joins the two items in the list.
Grammar rule
И is the basic coordinating conjunction meaning «and».
Question 10
Она спросила, ___ я завтра.
English context
She asked whether I would come tomorrow; complete an indirect yes/no question.
Options
- приду ли
- что
- чтобы
- если когда
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- приду ли
Correct feedback
Right. An indirect yes/no question uses ли after the verb: спросила, приду ли я.
Grammar rule
An indirect yes/no question is commonly introduced by ли, which follows the focused verb or phrase: Она спросила, приду ли я.