The new compound conjunction “to chto” may eventually become standard in Russian, although the construction is currently considered incorrect. Vladimir Pakhomov, a researcher at the V. V. Vinogradov Institute of the Russian Language of the Russian Academy of Sciences and chair of the Philology Council of the Total Dictation Foundation, reported on the ongoing debate on September 30. In his view, the spread of the expression may be linked to the language’s need for a new subordinating conjunction.
How “to chto” is used
Pakhomov gave the phrase “on skazal, to chto zavtra pridet” (“he said, to chto tomorrow he would come”) as an example. Under the current standard, it uses only the conjunction “chto”: “on skazal, chto zavtra pridet” (“he said that he would come tomorrow”). Adding “to” is still regarded as an error, but, according to the linguist, young people are increasingly choosing this construction.
This is not a new meaning for an existing word, but a possible compound conjunction—a fixed combination of several words that links parts of a complex sentence. In the example with the verb “skazal” (“said”), the conjunction introduces the content of the statement. The combination “to chto” could begin to serve precisely this grammatical function if its use becomes established.
Why the standard is being debated
Explaining the construction simply as a mistake does not settle the question: Pakhomov links its spread to a possible need for a new connective device in the language. This hypothesis does not mean that “to chto” has already been accepted as correct. For now, the standard form is the one without “to.”
The linguist stressed that changes in grammar are a natural part of language development, not a sign of its decline. But there is a difference between widespread usage and an established standard: reporting that young people are increasingly saying “to chto” does not declare the construction acceptable or set a timetable for any possible change.
What the example of “priyti” shows
The original report also gives another example of how a language standard is established. On September 2, Pavel Katyshev, head of the Department of General and Russian Linguistics at the Alexander Pushkin Institute, said that the standard spelling of the verb “priyti” includes the letter “y.” This form is listed in the Explanatory Dictionary of the State Language of the Russian Federation.
Before the unified standard mentioned by Katyshev was adopted, three spellings were in use: “priyti,” “pridti,” and “pritti.” This example concerns spelling, whereas the discussion of “to chto” concerns grammar. Both cases involve how usage relates to an established standard, but these different language questions should not be conflated.
What could change
If the combination “to chto” continues to spread, it could acquire the status of a compound subordinating conjunction. For now, this is a possible direction of development that Pakhomov has identified, not a change to the rules that has already taken place. The report gives neither a timeline nor a quantitative estimate of how widespread the construction is.
For readers, the practical guidance remains simple: in neutral standard speech and writing, use “on skazal, chto zavtra pridet” (“he said that he would come tomorrow”). Interest in “to chto” is a reason to watch how Russian grammar develops, but by itself it does not overturn the current standard.
Bottom line: “To chto” is still considered incorrect, but its spread could eventually turn the combination into a new compound conjunction.
