This book is intended for beginners, primarily those who wish to visit the USSR and to get along without an interpreter, at the same time learning some of the commonest types of Russian sentences and elementary vocabulary which could provide a basis for further study.
The authors realize that this aim could be attained either by merely practising properly arranged sentences or by combining this practice with learning certain rules of grammar. They are well aware that there is a large number of people who thoroughly dislike learning any grammar rules.
Success in mastering the elements of Russian therefore is not made conditional on the learning of rules. But the rules are there for those who may find them helpful.