Signification
Possessing a strategy.
Contexte culturel
In Russian business culture, 'иметь план' is associated with 'concrete' (конкретный) results. Being 'concrete' is a high compliment for a professional. The 'Five-Year Plan' (Пятилетка) was so central to Soviet life that many older Russians still associate the word 'план' with state-mandated goals. In the famous movie 'The Diamond Arm', the phrase 'У него есть план' is used to build suspense about a character's secret intentions. Young Russians often use the English loanword 'планировать' even in casual speech, but 'иметь план' remains the standard for formal goal-setting.
The 'Есть' Rule
When in doubt, use 'У меня есть план'. It works in 99% of situations and sounds more natural.
Negative Genitive
Don't forget to change 'план' to 'плана' if you say you DON'T have one: 'Я не имею плана'.
Signification
Possessing a strategy.
The 'Есть' Rule
When in doubt, use 'У меня есть план'. It works in 99% of situations and sounds more natural.
Negative Genitive
Don't forget to change 'план' to 'плана' if you say you DON'T have one: 'Я не имею плана'.
Adjective Placement
Add 'четкий' (clear) before 'план' to sound like a native professional: 'иметь четкий план'.
The 'Avos' Factor
Russians value planning but also admire the ability to act without one. Use 'иметь план' to show you are reliable.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'иметь'.
Мы _______ план на завтра.
The subject is 'Мы' (We), so the verb must be in the first-person plural form 'имеем'.
Choose the most natural way to say 'I have a plan' to a friend.
Как сказать другу 'I have a plan'?
While 'Я имею план' is correct, 'У меня есть план' is much more natural in casual conversation.
Match the Russian phrase with its English translation.
Match the following:
These are common collocations using the word 'план'.
Complete the dialogue.
— Вы готовы к презентации? — Да, мы _______ четкий план выступления.
The speaker is answering for a group ('мы'), so 'имеем' is correct.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formal vs. Informal Possession
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesМы _______ план на завтра.
The subject is 'Мы' (We), so the verb must be in the first-person plural form 'имеем'.
Как сказать другу 'I have a plan'?
While 'Я имею план' is correct, 'У меня есть план' is much more natural in casual conversation.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are common collocations using the word 'план'.
— Вы готовы к презентации? — Да, мы _______ четкий план выступления.
The speaker is answering for a group ('мы'), so 'имеем' is correct.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot exactly. 'Иметь план' is the state of possession, while 'планировать' is the active process of creating that plan.
Yes, but 'У меня есть планы на ужин' sounds more natural for social events.
This is the Genitive of Negation, a common rule in Russian where the object of a negative verb often takes the genitive case.
In speech, yes. In writing or business, it's perfectly normal.
Just like in English, it's a backup plan. Russians use the Cyrillic 'Б' (Be).
No, that sounds very strange. Say 'У меня есть идея'. 'Иметь' is rarely used with 'идея'.
Yes, 'есть тема' or 'есть планчик' (diminutive, often used playfully).
У меня нет планов (plural) or Я не имею планов.
Yes, 'план города' is a city map or plan.
In very specific old-school slang, 'план' could refer to marijuana, but this is outdated and unlikely to be confused in a normal context.
Expressions liées
Строить планы
similarTo make plans / To dream
Придерживаться плана
builds onTo stick to the plan
Запасной план
specialized formPlan B / Backup plan
Без плана
contrastWithout a plan
План действий
specialized formAction plan
