Usage of Russian Verbs

As you may know already, there are three tenses (present, past, future) and two aspects (imperfective, perfective) in Russian. The following table demonstrates how Russian verbs are used depending on their tense and aspect.

TENSE AND ASPECT	USAGE	EXAMPLE SENTENCES
PAST TENSE, IMPERFECTIVE ASPECT	Used to designate an action that began and ended at a particular time in the past; the result is not important for the speaker	Вчера вечером он читал книгу.
	Used for an action that occurred over period of time but was completed in the past; the action, not duration, is emphasized	Он плавал в бассейне весь день.
	Used for an activity that took place regularly in the past	Во время каникул мы ходили в кино каждое утро.
	Used for actions occurred over period of time simultaneously but were completed in the past	Когда я читал книгу, брат смотрел телевизор.
	Used when the result of an action is nullified, i.e. an opposite action occurred	В комнате холодно, потому что я открывал окно. (i.e. открыл и закрыл)
	Used for an action that occurred over period of time but was completed in the past. The duration is emphasized	Он строил дом целый месяц.
PAST TENSE, PERFECTIVE ASPECT	Used to emphasize the result of an action that began and ended at a particular time in the past	Вчера вечером я прочитал книгу от начала до конца.
	Used for a past action that had a result before another past action that also had a result	Когда мы пришли в класс, учитель уже ушёл домой. Мы успели сыграть партию в шахматы до того, как пришёл Андрей.
	Used when the result of an action remains	Он надел новую рубашку. (i.e. он надел и сейчас она надета)
	Used to designate an action that began and ended at a particular time in the past; the time during which the result was achieved is emphasized	Он построил дом за месяц.
PRESENT TENSE, IMPERFECTIVE ASPECT	Used for a present state of affairs	Андрей живёт в Москве.
	Used for a general fact	Волга впадает в Каспийское море. Солнце встаёт на востоке.
	Used for habitual actions	Каждое утро он читает газеты.
	Used for future timetables and arrangements	Поезд отходит в 12:00. Решено. Мы идём в кино.
	Used for a specific action that is occurring	На улице идёт сильный дождь.
	Used for an activity that takes place over period of time specified	Они играют в теннис уже 2 часа.
FUTURE TENSE, IMPERFECTIVE ASPECT	Used for an action that will be ongoing or repeated at a particular time in the future, but it is not known whether will be finished or not	Завтра утром я буду играть в теннис. Вечером она будет готовить ужин.
FUTURE TENSE, PERFECTIVE ASPECT	Used for an action that will be finished at a particular time in the future	Скоро он узнает хорошие новости. Вечером она приготовит ужин.

Lessons on Russian Verbs

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