Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tend'

English Word: tend

Key Russian Translations:

• иметь тенденцию [iˈmʲetʲ tʲɪnˈdɛnʦɨju] - [Informal, used in general contexts]
• склоняться [sklɐˈnovət͡ɕə] - [Formal, often in literary or academic settings]
• ухаживать [uˈxadʲɪvətʲ] - [Informal, specific to caring for someone or something]

Frequency: Medium (This verb and its translations are commonly used in everyday conversation and writing, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to be" or "to go".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb constructions and nuances, which may vary by translation. For "иметь тенденцию", it's B1; for "склоняться", it might lean towards B2 due to its more formal usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

иметь тенденцию: [iˈmʲetʲ tʲɪnˈdɛnʦɨju]

склоняться: [sklɐˈnovət͡ɕə]

ухаживать: [uˈxadʲɪvətʲ]

Note on склоняться: The stress is on the second syllable; be cautious with the palatalized 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in fast speech may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To have a tendency or inclination to do something (e.g., habitual behavior)

Translation(s) & Context:

• иметь тенденцию - Used in informal contexts to describe repeated actions or patterns, such as personal habits.
• склоняться - Employed in more formal or analytical contexts, like scientific discussions or literature.

Usage Examples:

• Он имеет тенденцию опаздывать на встречи.

  He tends to be late for meetings.

• Эта машина склоняется к перегреву в жару.

  This car tends to overheat in the heat.

• Дети имеют тенденцию задавать много вопросов.

  Children tend to ask a lot of questions.

• Он склоняется к пессимизму в трудных ситуациях.

  He tends to lean towards pessimism in difficult situations.

• Люди имеют тенденцию игнорировать предупреждения.

  People tend to ignore warnings.

Meaning 2: To take care of or look after something/someone

Translation(s) & Context:

• ухаживать - Common in everyday contexts, such as gardening or nursing.

Usage Examples:

• Она ухаживает за садом каждое утро.

  She tends to the garden every morning.

• Медсестра ухаживает за пациентами в больнице.

  The nurse tends to the patients in the hospital.

• Он ухаживает за пожилыми родителями.

  He tends to his elderly parents.

• Фермеры ухаживают за скотом в ферме.

  Farmers tend to the livestock on the farm.

• Она ухаживает за цветами в вазе.

  She tends to the flowers in the vase.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Most translations of "tend" are verbal phrases or verbs that follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. For example:

• иметь тенденцию: This is a phrase where "иметь" (to have) is the main verb, which is irregular. It conjugates as follows:

склоняться: This is a verb that follows the first conjugation pattern and changes by tense, aspect, and person. It is imperfective.

ухаживать: Also first conjugation, imperfective verb. It remains relatively regular but changes with aspect (e.g., perfective: ухаживать → поухаживать).

Note: "иметь тенденцию" does not change as a fixed phrase beyond the verb "иметь".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • стремиться (strive, for tendencies)
  • предрасполагаться (be predisposed)
  • заботиться (care for, for the caring sense; note: more emotional than ухаживать)
• Antonyms:
  • избегать (avoid)
  • не склоняться (not incline, context-dependent)
  • игнорировать (ignore, for caring sense)

Related Phrases:

• иметь тенденцию к чему-либо - To have a tendency towards something; used to describe inclinations, e.g., in psychology.
• склоняться к решению - To lean towards a decision; common in formal discussions.
• ухаживать за больным - To tend to the sick; a phrase in medical contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "tend" doesn't have a direct one-to-one equivalent, so choose based on context: use "иметь тенденцию" for habitual actions and "ухаживать" for caregiving. Be mindful of formality— "склоняться" is less common in casual speech. Grammatically, these verbs often require prepositions or objects, unlike the versatile English "tend". For learners, pair with aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions) to match nuances.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "иметь тенденцию" without the infinitive, e.g., saying "Он имеет тенденцию" instead of "Он имеет тенденцию опаздывать".
  Correct: Always follow with an infinitive to specify the action.
  Explanation: This makes the phrase incomplete and unclear in Russian.
• Error: Confusing "ухаживать" with "заботиться", using it for emotional care when it implies physical tending.
  Correct: Use "заботиться" for emotional support.
  Explanation: "Ухаживать" is more literal, like tending a garden, while "заботиться" involves worry or affection.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "иметь тенденцию" often appear in educational or self-reflective contexts, reflecting a societal emphasis on analyzing personal habits. For "ухаживать", it underscores the cultural value of family care, where tending to elders is a common expectation in Russian households.

Related Concepts:

• привычка (habit)
• наклонность (inclination)
• забота (care)