Basic Sentence Structure

Russian word order is more flexible than English, but the default pattern is:

Subject + Verb + Object (SVO)

Example: Я читаю книгу. (I read a book.)

Flexibility

Russian can move words around for emphasis without changing the core meaning: - Книгу читаю я (It is I who reads the book — emphasis on the subject). - Я книгу читаю (I read the book — emphasis on the action).

The verb "to be"

In the present tense, the verb "to be" (быть) is omitted: - Я студент — I am a student (literally: "I student"). - Она доктор — She is a doctor.

In the past and future, быть reappears: Я был студентом (I was a student).