Perfective vs. Imperfective Verbs in Russian: A Complete Guide with Examples
One of the most difficult challenges for foreigners learning Russian is understanding verb aspect—the difference between perfective and imperfective verbs. Unlike English, Russian has two versions of most verbs, which can be confusing.
In this article, we’ll explain what perfective and imperfective verbs are, how to use them correctly, and how to choose the right one in different situations.
🔹 What Is Verb Aspect in Russian?
Verb aspect in Russian does not exist in many other languages, making it one of the trickiest concepts to master. Aspect (вид глагола) refers to whether an action is:
- Incomplete, in progress, or repeated → Imperfective Aspect
- Completed, finished, or viewed as a whole → Perfective Aspect
Let’s look at the difference in more detail.
🔹 What Are Imperfective Verbs?
📌 Imperfective verbs describe an action in progress, repeated, habitual, or without emphasis on completion.
Uses of Imperfective Verbs:
1️⃣ Ongoing actions (something happening right now or in the past/future)
2️⃣ Habitual or repeated actions
3️⃣ General statements
4️⃣ Describing circumstances
5️⃣ Politeness in questions
Examples:
| Imperfective Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| читать | to read | Я читаю книгу. | I am reading a book. |
| писать | to write | Он писал письмо. | He was writing a letter. |
| смотреть | to watch | Мы смотрели фильм. | We were watching a movie. |
| говорить | to speak | Она всегда говорит правду. | She always tells the truth. |
| учить | to learn | Я учу русский язык. | I am learning Russian. |
💡 Key takeaway: Imperfective verbs focus on the process or repetition rather than whether the action is finished.
🔹 What Are Perfective Verbs?
📌 Perfective verbs describe an action that is completed or viewed as a whole.
Uses of Perfective Verbs:
1️⃣ One-time, completed actions
2️⃣ Emphasis on the result of an action
3️⃣ Future actions that will be completed
Examples:
| Perfective Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| прочитать | to read (completely) | Я прочитал книгу. | I (have) read the book. |
| написать | to write (completely) | Он написал письмо. | He wrote the letter. |
| посмотреть | to watch (fully) | Мы посмотрели фильм. | We (have) watched the movie. |
| сказать | to say (once, completed) | Она сказала правду. | She told the truth. |
| выучить | to learn (successfully) | Я выучил русский язык. | I have learned Russian. |
💡 Key takeaway: Perfective verbs focus on the completion and result of an action.
🔹 How to Choose Between Perfective and Imperfective?
Here are key rules to help you decide:
| Situation | Imperfective | Perfective |
|---|---|---|
| Action in progress | Я читал книгу весь день. (I was reading the book all day.) | Я прочитал книгу за день. (I finished the book in a day.) |
| Repeated action | Я всегда читаю перед сном. (I always read before bed.) | ❌ (Not used for repeated actions) |
| General facts | Он говорит на трёх языках. (He speaks three languages.) | ❌ (Not used for general facts) |
| One-time completed action | ❌ (Imperfective does not emphasize completion) | Он сказал мне правду. (He told me the truth.) |
| Future action | Я буду читать книгу. (I will be reading the book.) | Я прочитаю книгу. (I will finish the book.) |
🔹 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
🔴 Mistake 1: Using Perfective for Habitual Actions
❌ Я прочитываю книги каждый день. (I read books every day.)
✅ Я читаю книги каждый день. (I read books every day.)
🔴 Mistake 2: Using Imperfective for One-Time Completed Actions
❌ Я смотрел фильм вчера. (I watched the movie yesterday.)
✅ Я посмотрел фильм вчера. (I watched the movie yesterday.)
🔴 Mistake 3: Using Perfective in Negative Sentences About Experience
❌ Я не прочитал эту книгу. (I haven’t read this book.) → Sounds like you were supposed to read it but didn’t.
✅ Я не читал эту книгу. (I haven’t read this book.) → Neutral, just stating the fact.
🔹 How to Form Perfective Verbs from Imperfective?
Most perfective verbs are formed by adding a prefix to an imperfective verb.
| Imperfective | Perfective |
|---|---|
| читать | прочитать |
| писать | написать |
| говорить | сказать |
| смотреть | посмотреть |
| учить | выучить |
However, some verbs use a completely different root:
| Imperfective | Perfective |
|---|---|
| брать (to take) | взять (to take) |
| класть (to put) | положить (to put) |
| есть (to eat) | съесть (to eat) |
🔹 Conclusion: How to Master Russian Verb Aspect?
Mastering Russian verb aspect is a challenge, but these key points will help:
✔️ Use imperfective for processes, repeated actions, and habits.
✔️ Use perfective for one-time completed actions and results.
✔️ If you focus on «what was happening» → use imperfective.
✔️ If you focus on «what was completed» → use perfective.
✔️ Pay attention to common verb pairs and practice using them in context.
By practicing with real-life examples and paying attention to how native speakers use perfective and imperfective verbs, you’ll gradually develop a natural feel for them. Happy learning! 🚀
You may also like:
- Mastering Russian Punctuation: Key Rules for Correct Comma Usage and Why It Matters
- Regional Differences in Russian: How Speech Varies in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Siberia
- How to Speak Beautiful Russian: Exploring Archaic Words and Expressive Speech
- The Most Challenging Russian Words for Foreigners and How to Remember Them: A Focus on Difficult Pronunciations and Unusual Rules
- Learning Russian Through Soviet and Russian Cartoons: Exploring Phraseology, Cultural Codes, and Intonation
