Language through Literature

The Malefactor


Было б за что, пошёл бы, а то так… здорово живёшь…

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Show the English

If there were something to go for, I'd go, but like this… out of a clear sky…

Where it stands

— В тюрьму… — To prison…

За что? What for?

И не крал, кажись, и не дрался… I've not stolen, seemingly, nor have I been fighting…

The words in this sentence

бы́ло
was (past n of быть) — быть
б
would (conditional particle, short for бы)
за
behind, beyond; for (+ acc/instr)
что
what; that (conjunction)
пошёл
went, set off (past m of пойти) — пойти
бы
would (conditional particle)
а
and, but (conjunction)
то
that; then (если... то)
так
so, thus
здо́рово
splendidly, great (colloq.)
живёшь
you live (2sg) — жить

А. П. Чехов, «Злоумышленник», 1885 · sentence 64 of 73

This is one sentence of «Злоумышленник» — 73 sentences long, and the whole story reads like this: every word glossed where it stands, the English out of your eyeline until you ask for it. Free, no account.

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