In Russian we do not say “He needs a pencil.” we say “To him a pencil is needed.” This generator shows you how. Pick a word from the first column to indicate who feels the need. Then pick a needed thing from the fourth column. Now pick the proper word from the second column following the instructions in the third column.
Who feels the need* | “Is necessary” | Instructions | What is needed |
Кому́ To whom |
на́до | Use надо with verbs and verb phrases. Verb must be in infinitive. Add “было” for past tense, “будет” for future. |
говори́ть to speak |
Мне To me |
ку́шать to eat |
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Нам To us |
уйти leave |
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Тебе́ To thee |
ну́жен | Use нужен with masculine nouns. Add “был” for past tense, “будет” for future. |
каранда́ш a pencil |
Вам To you |
блокно́т a notepad |
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Ему́ To him |
фотоаппара́т a camera |
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Ей To her |
отве́т an answer |
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Им To them |
ну́жна | Use нужна with feminine nouns. Add “была” for past tense, “будет” for future. |
Би́блия a Bible |
Ива́ну To John |
по́мощь help |
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А́нне To Anna |
ру́чка a pen |
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наде́жда hope |
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ну́жно | Use нужно with neuter nouns. Add “было” for past tense, “будет” for future. |
пальто́ an overcoat |
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я́блоко an apple |
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много a lot |
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ну́жны | Use нужны with plural nouns. Add “были” for past tense, “будет” for future. |
очки́ eyeglasses |
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носки́ socks |
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де́ньги money |
*You can add words to column one as long as you put them in the dative case. Add -у to masculine words. Change the -а or -я at the end of feminine words to -е. Details in Grammar 5—Russian Case Charts.
Мне на́до говори́ть. | I need to speak. |
Ему ну́жна по́мочь. | He needs help. |
Ива́ну бу́дет каранда́ш. | John needs a pencil. |