Learn Hardcore Russian: Я записал слова учителя.

слова here is accusative plural—it’s the direct object of записал (“I wrote down”). For inanimate neuter nouns like слово, the accusative plural form is identical to the nominative plural, so you see слова in both cases.

Why is учителя in the genitive case? Isn’t учитель the base form?

To express “the teacher’s words,” Russian uses the genitive to show possession: “words of the teacher.” The singular genitive of учитель is учителя. Although учителя also matches the nominative plural form, here context tells us it’s genitive singular (one teacher’s words).

How can I tell apart genitive singular учителя from nominative plural учителя?

Context and agreement are key. If it were multiple teachers, you’d say слова учителей (plural genitive). Also, as a direct object, слова (plural) is followed by a genitive to show “of whom,” not a subject-verb relationship.

How would a female speaker say this sentence?

In the past tense, Russian verbs agree with the speaker’s gender. A woman would say:
Я записала слова учителя.

What’s the difference between записал and написал?

• записать (perfective) means “to write down” or “record” (e.g. lecture notes, phone numbers).
• написать (perfective) means “to write” in the sense of composing text (letters, essays).

Why isn’t there a separate preposition for “down” as in the English “write down”?

The prefix за- in записать carries that meaning. Russian often uses prefixes attached to verbs instead of standalone prepositions like “down.”

Why use perfective записал instead of imperfective записывал?

Perfective (записал) indicates a completed action—“I wrote them down (and finished).” Imperfective (записывал) would frame it as an ongoing or habitual process without focusing on its completion.

Can I drop я and simply say Записал слова учителя?

Yes. Russian frequently omits subject pronouns when the meaning is clear from context or verb ending. Omitting я makes the sentence more concise or colloquial.

Is the word order fixed? Could I say Слова учителя я записал?

Word order in Russian is relatively flexible. Starting with Слова учителя places emphasis on “the teacher’s words.” The core meaning remains the same; you’re just highlighting that part.