Verb Aspect in Russian: Perfective and Imperfective
The idea behind Russian verb pairs, and how to choose between the process and the result.
Most Russian verbs come in pairs: an imperfective and a perfective. This is called aspect.
The core idea
- Imperfective describes a process, a repeated action or a general fact.
- Perfective describes a single, completed action with a result.
Common pairs
| Imperfective | Perfective | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| делать | сделать | to do |
| читать | прочитать | to read |
| писать | написать | to write |
| покупать | купить | to buy |
| брать | взять | to take |
| говорить | сказать | to say |
Examples
- Я читал книгу. I was reading a book, or I read books (process).
- Я прочитал книгу. I read the book through (completed).
- Я часто покупаю хлеб. I often buy bread.
- Я купил хлеб. I bought bread (once, done).
Aspect and tense
| Imperfective | Perfective | |
|---|---|---|
| Past | читал | прочитал |
| Present | читаю | no present tense |
| Future | буду читать | прочитаю |
How pairs are formed
Often, a perfective verb is made by adding a prefix to the imperfective, such as по-, на-, про- or с-. Others are separate words, so learn the pairs.
Which to choose
Ask yourself:
- Is the action complete, with a result? Use perfective.
- Is it ongoing, repeated or general? Use imperfective.
Tips
- Always learn both halves of a pair.
- Notice prefixes.
- Use the dictionary, which lists verbs with their partners.
English Russian Dictionary
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