Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'prove'

English Word: prove

Key Russian Translations:

• доказать [dɐˈkazətʲ] - [Formal, Perfective verb; used for completed actions]
• проверить [prɐˈvʲerʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective verb; used for ongoing or verification processes]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in academic, legal, and everyday contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'to be' or 'to have')

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb aspects, but manageable for learners familiar with basic grammar. For 'доказать': B1; for 'проверить': A2 if focusing on imperfective forms)

Pronunciation (Russian):

доказать: [dɐˈkazətʲ]

проверить: [prɐˈvʲerʲɪtʲ]

Note on доказать: The stress falls on the second syllable ('ka'), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to differing stress patterns in Russian. It has a soft 't' sound at the end.

Note on проверить: The 'е' in the middle is pronounced as a soft 'ye' sound, and the verb often softens consonants in conjugation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To demonstrate the truth or validity of something (e.g., in arguments or evidence)

Translation(s) & Context:

• доказать - Used in formal contexts like scientific discussions, legal proceedings, or debates to indicate a completed proof.
• проверить - Used in informal or practical contexts for verifying facts, often ongoing.

Usage Examples:

• Я могу доказать, что эта теория верна, с помощью эксперимента.

  I can prove that this theory is correct with an experiment.

• В суде адвокат должен доказать невиновность клиента.

  In court, the lawyer must prove the client's innocence.

• Он решил проверить свои подозрения, проверив документы.

  He decided to prove his suspicions by checking the documents.

• Учёные доказали существование новой частицы в лаборатории.

  Scientists proved the existence of a new particle in the laboratory.

• Пожалуйста, проверьте это утверждение, прежде чем принять его.

  Please prove this statement by verifying it before accepting it.

To turn out to be or result in something (e.g., in outcomes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• оказаться [ɐkɐˈzatʲsə] - Used when something proves to be true unexpectedly, often in narrative contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его идея оказалась успешной после тестирования.

  His idea proved to be successful after testing.

• Эта еда оказалась вкусной, несмотря на внешний вид.

  This food proved to be tasty, despite its appearance.

• Проект оказался сложнее, чем мы ожидали.

  The project proved to be more complicated than we expected.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Most key translations are verbs, which in Russian undergo aspectual changes and conjugations. 'Доказать' is a perfective verb (indicating completed action), while 'Проверить' is imperfective (indicating ongoing or repeated action). They do not change in form like nouns but conjugate based on tense, person, and number.

Note: These verbs are irregular in aspect but follow standard conjugation patterns. 'Доказать' does not have an imperfective counterpart in all contexts, making it aspectually fixed.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Подтвердить [pɐdtvʲerˈdʲitʲ] - Similar to 'проверить', but more formal for confirmation.
  • Установить [ʊstɐˈnɐvʲɪtʲ] - Implies establishing proof definitively.
• Antonyms:
  • Опровергнуть [ɐprɐˈvʲerɡnʊtʲ] - To disprove or refute.
  • Отрицать [ɐˈtrʲinʲɪtʲ] - To deny, often in opposition to proof.

Related Phrases:

• Доказать в суде - In court proof; used in legal contexts to mean providing evidence in a trial.
• Проверить на практике - To prove in practice; implies testing something in real-world scenarios.
• Оказаться правым - To prove to be right; common in arguments or discussions.

Usage Notes:

Russian verbs like 'доказать' and 'проверить' are aspect-sensitive, meaning 'доказать' (perfective) is for completed actions, while 'проверить' (imperfective) suits ongoing ones. English speakers should choose based on context: use 'доказать' for final proof and 'проверить' for processes. In formal writing, pair with prepositions like 'в' (in) for locations, e.g., 'в суде'. If multiple translations apply, opt for 'доказать' in academic settings and 'проверить' in everyday checks to ensure natural flow.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; Russian often requires aspect adjustments not present in English.
• In spoken Russian, these verbs may vary by region, but standard forms are widely understood.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse the perfective 'доказать' with the imperfective 'проверить', leading to incorrect aspect usage. For example:

• Error: *Я проверю это завтра* (intended as a one-time proof, but 'проверить' implies ongoing).
• Correct: Я договорюсь доказать это завтра (Use 'доказать' for a completed future action).
• Explanation: Russian requires matching verb aspect to the action's completeness; mixing them can make sentences sound unnatural or unclear.
• Another error: Overusing 'доказать' in informal contexts, e.g., *Я доказываю, что это вкусно* (incorrect for ongoing tasting).
• Correct: Я проверяю, что это вкусно (Use imperfective for process).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, proving something ('доказать') often carries a strong emphasis in legal and intellectual contexts, influenced by historical events like Soviet-era trials. For instance, in literature and media, proof is tied to themes of truth and justice, as seen in works by authors like Dostoevsky, where personal proof of innocence reflects societal distrust.

Related Concepts:

• Доказательство (proof, as a noun)
• Проверка (verification or check)
• Оправдание (justification or acquittal)