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1.
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The Meaning of Aspect
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In addition to three tenses, Russian verbs have two aspects: imperfective
and perfective.
In a Russian dictionary almost every verb listing shows both perfective and
imperfective stems, with the imperfective verb listed first. For example: читать
(imperf.) - прочитать (perf.).
The majority of the verbs you have encountered up to this lesson have been
imperfective.
Imperfective aspect is used for:
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repeated or habitual actions (in the present, past and future)
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1. Я работаю каждый день.
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I work every day.
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2. Раньше я работала каждый день.
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I used to work every day.
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3. Летом я буду работать каждый день.
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In the summer I will work every day.
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4. Я много читаю.
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I read a lot.
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a single action in progress and therefore incomplete (in the present)
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- Что ты делаешь?
- Я смотрю телевизор.
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- What are you doing?
- I'm watching TV.
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actions which do not emphasize the result (in the past and future)
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1.- Что вы делали вчера вечером?
- Папа читал газету, мама писала письмо нашей бабушке,
а я смотрел телевизор.
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- What did you do last night?
- Dad read a newspaper, mom wrote our grandma a letter, and I watched TV.
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2. Завтра я буду читать, смотреть телевизор и отдыхать.
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Tomorrow I will read, watch TV and relax.
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Perfective aspect is used for:
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a single, completed action in the past
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Я прочитала эту книгу.
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I have read this book.
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intention to complete an action in the future
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Я прочитаю эту книгу.
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I will have read this book.
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2.
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Aspect and Tense
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Using an imperfective verb you can form the Present tense, the Past
tense and the Future tense.
A perfective action is possible only in the Past or Future,
because the idea of completion is incompatible with the Russian conception of
present tense. Study the chart below:
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Aspect/Tense
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Past
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Present
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Future
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Perfective
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Он прочитал эту книгу.
He has read this book.
( 'finished reading' - the completion is emphasized)
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-
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Он прочитает эту книгу.
He will have read this book.
(the intention to complete is emphasized)
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Imperfective
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Он читал книгу.
He was reading / read a book.
(the result is not emphasized )
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Он читает книгу.
He is reading a book. (now )
Вечером он часто читает.
In the evening he often reads.
(a habitual action)
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Он будет читать книгу.
He will be reading / will read a book.
(the intention to complete is not emphasized)
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3.
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Future Tense: Imperfective and Perfective Future
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There are two types of future tense in Russian: Imperfective Future and
Perfective Future.
Imperfective Future requires the appropriate form of the verb быть "to
be" agreeing with the subject followed by the imperfective infinitive. The
Imperfective Future forms of verbs are used for
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repeated or habitual actions in the future: Летом я буду работать каждый день -
In the summer I will work every day;
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actions in the future which do not emphasize the result: Завтра я буду читать,
смотреть телевизор и отдыхать - Tomorrow I will read, watch TV and relax.
Perfective Future is formed from the perfective infinitive (for example:
прочитать - to have read). The endings are identical to those of the Present
tense forms. The Perfective Future forms of verbs are used to express:
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intention to complete an action in the future: Я прочитаю эту книгу завтра - I
will have read this book tomorrow
Compare the forms of both Imperfective and Perfective Future. Memorize them.
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Imperfective Future
(will read/ will be reading)
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Perfective Future
(will have read)
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я
ты
он (она)
мы
вы
они
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буду читать
будешь читать
будет читать
будем читать
будете читать
будут читать
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прочитаю
прочитаешь
прочитает
прочитаем
прочитаете
прочитают
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Note
Be careful: do not confuse the following forms:
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Present tense (only imperfective): я читаю - I am reading/ I read;
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Future Perfective: я прочитаю - I will have read;
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Future Imperfective: я буду читать - I will read/ will be reading.
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To figure out if a verb is in the Present tense or Imperfective Future tense,
you have to learn both Imperfective and Perfective infinitives for all Russian
verbs. Dictionaries always show both perfective and imperfective infinitives
with the imperfective verb listed first: читать (imperf.) - прочитать
(perf.).
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4.
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The contextual clues
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Adverbs like обычно, часто, редко, всегда, иногда (usually, often,
rare, always, sometimes) and time expressions like каждый день, каждый год,
каждую неделю (every day, every year, every week) indicate repetition
and therefore require an imperfective verb.
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Я всегда завтракаю дома.
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I always have breakfast at home.
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Он работает каждый день.
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He works every day.
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The word уже (already) indicates completion and therefore requires
a perfective verb.
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Она уже приготовила ужин.
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She has already prepared dinner.
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5.
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Aspectual Pairs. Formation
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From now on you will learn verbs in aspectual pairs. Often aspectual pairs look
very similar.
The perfective aspect is usually
formed form the imperfective either by prefixation or by suffixation. Examine
the following pairs. Memorize them:
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1. The perfective aspect is formed
form the imperfective by prefixation. This does not effect conjugation
type.
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Imperfective Aspect
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Perfective Aspect
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Translation
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читать
писать
рисовать
печатать
звонить
смотреть
завтракать
обедать
ужинать
слушать
делать
готовить
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->
->
->
->
->
->
->
->
->
->
->
->
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прочитать
написать
нарисовать
напечатать
позвонить
посмотреть
позавтракать
пообедать
поужинать
послушать
сделать
приготовить
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to read -> have read
to write -> have written
to draw -> have drawn
to print -> have printed
to call/phone -> have
called/phoned
to watch, look at -> have
watched
to have breakfast -> have eaten
breakfast
to have lunch -> have eaten
lunch
to have dinner -> have eaten
dinner
to listen -> to have
listened
to do -> have done
to cook, prepare -> have
cooked/prepared
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2. The perfective aspect is formed
form the imperfective by suffixation with the possible mutation of final
root consonant or truncation of prefix. Conjugation type changes. Note the
pairing a 1st conjugation verb (imperfective) with a 2nd conjugation verb
(perfective).
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Imperfective Aspect
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Perfective Aspect
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Translation
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решать
покупать
отвечать
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->
->
->
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решить
купить
ответить
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to solve, decide -> have
solved/decided
to buy -> have bought
to answer -> have answered
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3. Some verbs have different roots or different stems for im
perfective and perfective aspects. Examples:
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Imperfective Aspect
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Perfective Aspect
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Translation
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говорить
переводить
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->
->
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сказать
перевести
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to tell/say - have told/said
to translate - have translated
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Reading Чтение
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Read and translate the
dialogue. Analyze the use of perfective and imperfective verbs. Refer to
Vocabulary section on right.
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Диалоги
I. Разговор по телефону. Сергей звонит
Тане.
- Алло!
- Привет, Таня! Это Сергей!
- Привет, Серёжа!
- Что ты сейчас делаешь?
- Читаю интересную немецкую статью
по истории.
- А что ты будешь делать, когда
прочитаешь эту статью?
- Когда я её прочитаю, буду писать
письмо моей немецкой подруге.
- А что ты будешь делать, когда
напишешь письмо?
- Когда напишу, буду смотреть
телевизор. Сегодя вечером новый фильм Михалкова "Восток - Запад". А что ты
делаешь?
- Сейчас я смотрю футбол, а
вечером буду писать курсовую работу. Кстати, Восток - Запад я уже посмотрел.
- А когда ты его смотрел?
- Полгода назад в кинотеатре.
Questions - Вопросы
II. Answer the following questions.
1. Что сейчас делает Катя?
2. Что сейчас делает Сергей?
3. Что будет делать Катя, когда
прочитает статью?
4. Что она будет делать, когда напишет
письмо подруге?
5. Что будет делать Сергей вечером?
Write your translation and answers on paper and check with the 
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Exercises Упражнения
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Formation of the Perfective Aspect
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Perfective or Imperfective
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Aspect and tense practice
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Aspect and tense practice
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