How to Say "I Have" in Russian
Russian doesn't use a verb like "to have." Instead, you say that an object "is by" or "at" the owner.
The standard formula is: У (at/by) + [Owner] + есть (is/there is) + [Object].
The preposition у requires the owner to take the genitive case:
| Nominative (Subject) | Genitive (After "у") | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| я | меня | me |
| ты | тебя | you (informal) |
| мы | нас | us |
| вы | вас | you (formal/plural) |
The object being owned stays in its dictionary form (nominative case).
| I have time. | У меня есть время. |
| I have a good idea. | У меня есть хорошая идея. |
Asking Questions
To ask a question, keep the exact same word order as a statement and simply raise your intonation on the object you are asking about.
| Do you have a question? | У тебя есть вопрос? |
| Do you have questions? | У вас есть вопросы? |
Plural Objects
The word есть acts as a fixed link. It never changes to match the owner, and it stays exactly the same whether you have one object or many.
| We have an interesting idea. | У нас есть интересная идея. |
| We have new computers. | У нас есть новые компьютеры. |
Adding Context
You can add time words to the beginning of the sentence, or list multiple objects using и (and).
| Now I have a plan. | Сейчас у меня есть план. |
| Where are we going? Do you have a plan? | Куда мы идём? У тебя есть план? |
| I have a passport and a ticket. | У меня есть паспорт и билет. |
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