Introduction

The consonants г, к, х, ж, ш, ч, щ and ц are affected by spelling rules (☞ 1.3). The spelling rules do not change the hardness or softness of the stem or ending, but modify the pattern that the word follows when it is declined. Adjectival endings contain two letters. The first letter of the ending indicates its hardness or softness. The dictionary form of an adjective has a hard ending if it ends with -ый or -ой. The dictionary form of an adjective has a soft ending if it ends with -ий. The verb conjugation and formation of the verbal forms are not affected by the hardness or softness of their stems and endings.