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Irregular Verbs and Their Conjugation in Russian
In Russian, like in many other languages, there are irregular verbs that do not follow the standard conjugation patterns. These verbs require special attention, as their forms in different tenses or persons can deviate from regular rules. Below is an overview of some important irregular verbs, their conjugation in present, past, and future tenses, as well as some common exceptions.
1. The Verb «быть» (to be)
The verb быть is highly irregular and is used in the present tense only in the form есть (there is) or in sentences with the future tense. In the past tense, it’s fully conjugated.
Conjugation in Present Tense:
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
есть
(there) is / are
Ты (you, informal)
есть
(there) is / are
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
есть
(there) is / are
Мы (we)
есть
(there) are
Вы (you, formal/plural)
есть
(there) are
Они (they)
есть
(there) are
Conjugation in Past Tense:
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
был/была
I was (masc./fem.)
Ты (you, informal)
был/была
you were (masc./fem.)
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
был/была/было
he/she/it was
Мы (we)
были
we were
Вы (you, formal/plural)
были
you were
Они (they)
были
they were
Conjugation in Future Tense:
In the future tense, быть is used as an auxiliary verb for forming the future tense of other verbs, but it can also be used independently in its own conjugated form.
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
буду
I will be
Ты (you, informal)
будешь
you will be
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
будет
he/she/it will be
Мы (we)
будем
we will be
Вы (you, formal/plural)
будете
you will be
Они (they)
будут
they will be
2. The Verb «идти» (to go)
The verb идти (to go, on foot) is irregular in its conjugation, especially in the present tense.
Conjugation in Present Tense:
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
иду
I am going
Ты (you, informal)
идёшь
you are going (informal)
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
идёт
he/she/it is going
Мы (we)
идём
we are going
Вы (you, formal/plural)
идёте
you are going
Они (they)
идут
they are going
Conjugation in Past Tense:
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
шёл/шла
I went (masc./fem.)
Ты (you, informal)
шёл/шла
you went (masc./fem.)
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
шёл/шла/шло
he/she/it went
Мы (we)
шли
we went
Вы (you, formal/plural)
шли
you went
Они (they)
шли
they went
Conjugation in Future Tense:
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
пойду
I will go
Ты (you, informal)
пойдёшь
you will go
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
пойдёт
he/she/it will go
Мы (we)
пойдём
we will go
Вы (you, formal/plural)
пойдёте
you will go
Они (they)
пойдут
they will go
3. The Verb «есть» (to eat)
The verb есть is used to mean «to eat.» It is irregular primarily in the present tense.
Conjugation in Present Tense:
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
ем
I eat
Ты (you, informal)
ешь
you eat (informal)
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
ест
he/she/it eats
Мы (we)
едим
we eat
Вы (you, formal/plural)
едите
you eat
Они (they)
едят
they eat
Conjugation in Past Tense:
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
ел/ела
I ate (masc./fem.)
Ты (you, informal)
ел/ела
you ate (masc./fem.)
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
ел/ела/ело
he/she/it ate
Мы (we)
ели
we ate
Вы (you, formal/plural)
ели
you ate
Они (they)
ели
they ate
4. The Verb «сказать» (to say)
Сказать is an irregular verb that means «to say.» It’s conjugated irregularly in the past and future tenses.
Conjugation in Present Tense:
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
скажу
I will say
Ты (you, informal)
скажешь
you will say (informal)
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
скажет
he/she/it will say
Мы (we)
скажем
we will say
Вы (you, formal/plural)
скажете
you will say
Они (they)
скажут
they will say
Conjugation in Past Tense:
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
сказал/сказала
I said (masc./fem.)
Ты (you, informal)
сказал/сказала
you said (masc./fem.)
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
сказал/сказала/сказало
he/she/it said
Мы (we)
сказали
we said
Вы (you, formal/plural)
сказали
you said
Они (they)
сказали
they said
5. The Verb «хотеть» (to want)
The verb хотеть is irregular in both the present and past tenses.
Conjugation in Present Tense:
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
хочу
I want
Ты (you, informal)
хочешь
you want (informal)
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
хочет
he/she/it wants
Мы (we)
хотим
we want
Вы (you, formal/plural)
хотите
you want
Они (they)
хотят
they want
Conjugation in Past Tense:
Person
Conjugation
Translation
Я (I)
хотел/хотела
I wanted (masc./fem.)
Ты (you, informal)
хотел/хотела
you wanted (masc./fem.)
Он/Она/Оно (he/she/it)
хотел/хотела/хотело
he/she/it wanted
Мы (we)
хотели
we wanted
Вы (you, formal/plural)
хотели
you wanted
Они (they)
хотели
they wanted
Conclusion
Irregular verbs in Russian are essential to understand and master, as they are used frequently in everyday speech. By practicing their conjugation in various tenses, you’ll become more fluent in using them naturally and accurately. Make sure to familiarize yourself with these verbs and their exceptions in order to communicate effectively in Russian.