When it comes to choosing which Russian aspect to use, the main rules seem pretty simple and straightforward:
– use perfective verbs for completed or one-time actions,
– use imperfective verbs for continuous or repetitive actions.
But as you progress in learning Russian, you find out that it is a bit more complicated than that.
If you still get frustrated trying to figure out which aspect to use, the post below is intended to help you. We will both cover the basic rules and give you some additional tips. All that is accompanied by multiple examples.
We start with the perfective verbs as there is less to cover here…
When to use the Perfective aspect
One-time action
If it is a one-time action that does not imply repetition, use perfective verbs:
-
Он сде́лал нам хоро́шую ски́дку.
on sdyé-lal nam ha-ró-shu-yu skéet-ku
He gave us a good discount.
-
Им разреши́ли пройти́ на конце́рт беспла́тно.
eem paz-ree-shée-lee praî-tee na kan-tsert bees-plát-na
They were allowed to go to the concert for free.
This includes commands to perform a one-time action:
-
Назови́те ва́шу фами́лию, и́мя и о́тчество.
na-za-vée-tye vá-shu fa-mée-lee-yu, ée-mya ee ót-cheest-vo
Tell me your last name, first name and patronymic.
-
Отключи́ дви́гатель и поста́вь маши́ну на ручно́й то́рмоз.
at-klyu-chée dvée-ga-teel' ee pas-táf' ma-shée-nu na ruch-nóî tór-mas
Turn off the engine and put the car on the handbrake.
-
Подскажи́те, пожа́луйста, в како́й стороне́ вокза́л?
pat-ska-zhée-tye, pa-zhá-lus-ta, f ka-kóî sta-ra-nyé vak-zál
Tell me please, which way is the station?
Action completed or implies completion
If the action is completed, be it in the Past or in the Future, use perfective verbs:
-
Что случи́лось?
chto slu-chée-las'
What happened?
-
Он при́нял душ и побри́лся.
on prée-nyal dush ee pa-bréel-sya
He showered and shaved.
-
Э́тот обы́чай пришёл к нам из глубины́ веко́в.
é-tat a-bý-chaî pree-shól k nam eez glu-bee-ný vee-kof
This custom came to us from ancient days.
-
Мы познако́мились четы́ре го́да наза́д.
my paz-na-kó-mee-lees' che-tý-rye gó-da na-zát
We met four years ago.
-
Дай мне э́ту футбо́лку, я её постира́ю.
daî mnye é-tu fud-ból-ku, ya ye-yó pas-tee-rá-yu
Give me this t-shirt, I'll wash it.
-
В кото́ром часу́ ты вернёшься?
f ka-tó-ram chee-sú tu veer-nyósh-sya
What time will you be back?
-
Как доберёшься до ме́ста, позвони́ мне.
kak da-bee-ryósh-sya da myés-ta, pa-zva-née mnye
Call me as you get there.
This includes verbs with the prefix за- that often indicate a successful start of an action. You can also say that these are one-time actions:
-
Потеря́в самооблада́ние от волне́ния, она́ вдруг запла́кала.
pa-tee-ryáf sa-ma-ab-la-dá-nee-ye at val-nyé-nee-ya, a-na vdruk za-plá-ka-la
Having lost her composure from nervousness, she suddenly burst into tears.
-
От всего́ э́того шу́ма у меня́ заболе́ла голова́.
at vsee-vó é-ta-va shú-ma u mee-nyá za-ba-lyé-la ga-la-vá
I got a headache from all this noise.
Negative sentences
When the subject failed to perfom an expected action, use perfective verbs:
-
Ты до сих пор не сде́лал, что я тебя́ проси́ла.
tu da sih por nye sdyé-lal, chto ya tee-byá pra-sée-la
You still haven't done what I asked you to.
-
Ли́бо он меня́ не заме́тил, ли́бо сде́лал вид, что не заме́тил.
lée-ba on mee-nyá nye za-myé teel, lée-ba sdyé-lal veet, chto nye za-myé-teel
Either he did not notice me, or pretended not to notice.
-
Они́ нам ничего́ не сказа́ли.
a-née nam nee-chee-vó nye ska-zá-lee
They told us nothing.
Pay attention that if you use imperfective verb говорили in the last example, it will mean that we did not expect them to say anything. As it is, it means we expected some information from them.
Also, use perfective verbs in those negative sentences where the result is more important than the process:
-
Смотри́, не вля́пайся в грязь!
smat-rée, nye vlyá-paî-sya v gryaz'
Careful, do not walk into the mud!
When to use the imperfective aspect
Present tense
Perfective verbs do not have Present tense, so if you are talking in Present, use imperfective verbs.
-
Я в магази́н собира́юсь, тебе́ чего́-нибу́дь на́до?
ya v ma-ga-zéen sa-bee-rá-yus', tee-byé chee-vó-nee-bút' ná-da
I'm going to the store, do you need anything?
-
В компа́нии прохо́дят ма́ссовые увольне́ния.
v kam-pá-nee-ee pra-hó-dyat más-sa-vy-ye u-val'-nyé-nee-ya
The company massively dismisses employees.
-
Мою́ маши́ну ремонти́руют.
ma-yú ma-shée-nu ree-man-tée-ru-yut
My car is being repaired.
Continuous action
When describing a continuous action in the Past or in the Future, use imperfective verbs:
-
Во́зле крова́ти стоя́ла небольша́я ту́мбочка.
vóz-lee kra-vá-tee sta-yá-la nee-bal'-shá-ya túm-bach-ka
There was was a small bedside table near the bed.
-
Она́ несла́ тяжёлую су́мку.
a-ná nees-lá tee-zhó-lu-yu súm-ku
She carried a heavy bag.
-
На ко́нчике но́са у него́ красова́лся прыщ.
na kón-chee-kye nó-sa u nee-vó kra-so-vál-sya prysch
On the tip of his nose he had a pimple. (A pimple was flaunting on the tip of his nose.)
-
Они́ бу́дут снима́ть фильм о Нико́ла Те́сла.
a-née bú-dut snee-mát' fil'm a nee-ka-la tés-la
They will be making a film about Nikola Tesla.
Repetitive actions
Habits, customs, recurrent things, and all other actions that repeat use imperfective verbs:
-
Она́ вя́жет крючко́м и спи́цами.
a-ná vyá-zhet kryuch-kóm ee spée-tsa-mee
She crochets and knits.
-
Мой муж отли́чно гото́вит.
moî mush at-léech-na ga-tó-veet
My husband is a great cook.
-
Весь о́тпуск мы е́ли морепродукты и ры́бу.
vyes' ót-pusk my yé-lee mó-ree-pra-dúk-ty ee rý-bu
All vacation we ate seafood and fish.
-
В жи́зни вся́кое случа́ется.
v zhéez-nee vsyá-ka-ye slu-chá-ee-tsa
In life, everything happens.
-
Я ка́ждый день слы́шу твои́ обеща́ния.
ya kázh-dyî dyen' slý-shu tva-ée a-bee-schá-nee-ya
I hear your promises every day.
-
Посу́ду никто́ не мыл уже́ па́ру дней.
pa-sú-du neek-tó nye myl u-zhé pá-ru dnyeî
Nobody washed the dishes for a couple of days already.
-
Она́ ка́ждый ме́сяц перево́дит роди́телям небольшу́ю су́мму де́нег.
a-ná kázh-dyî myé-syat pee-ree-vó-deet ra-dée-tee-lyam nee-bál'-shú-yu súm-mu dyé-nyek
Every month she transfers a small amount of money to her parents.
-
Она́ всегда́ о́чень расстра́ивается, когда́ прои́грывает.
a-ná fseeg-dá ó-cheen' rast-rá-ee-va-ee-tsa, kag-dá pra-éeg-ry-vá-eet
She is always very upset when she loses.
Such words and привык, привыкла, принято, обычно, всегда, иногда can help you to identify those repetitive actions:
-
90% на́ших де́йствий мы выполня́ем по привы́чке.
dee-vee-nós-ta pra-tsén-taf ná-sheeh dyeîst-veeî my vy-pal-nyá-eem pa pree-výsh-kye
We carry out 90% of our actions out of habit.
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Он привы́к поступа́ть по со́вести.
on pree-výk pas-tu-tát' pa só-vees-tee
He is used to act in good conscience.
-
В Росси́и при́нято целова́ться при встре́че то́лько с бли́зкими друзья́ми и чле́нами семьи́.
v ras-sée-ee prée-nya-ta tse-la-vá-tsa pree fstryé-chye tól'-ka c bléez-kee-mee druz'-yá-mee ee chlyé-na-mee seem'-ee
In Russia, it is customary to kiss only when meeting close friends and family members.
-
Зимо́й па́па обы́чно вози́л нас в са́дик на са́нках.
zee-móî pá-pa a-bých-na va-zéel nas v sá-deek na sán-kah
In the winter, dad usually took us to the kindergarten on a sled.
Process is more important than its completion
When process of perfoming an action plays a bigger role than it’s completion, use imperfective verbs:
-
У неё не́ было настрое́ния продолжа́ть разгово́р.
u nee-yó nyé ba-la nast-ra-yé-nee-ya pra-dal-zhát' raz-ga-vór
She was in no mood to continue the conversation.
-
Контра́кт предвеща́л партнёрам хоро́шие дивиде́нды.
kant-rákt pryed-vee-schál part-nyó-ram ha-ró-shee-ye dee-vee-dyén-ty
The contract foreshadowed good dividends for the partners.
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За́втра я плани́рую расслабля́ться с утра́ до ве́чера.
záft-ra ya pla-née-ru-yu ras-lab-lyá-tsa s ut-rá da vyé-che-ra
Tomorrow I plan to relax from morning to evening.
-
Уже́ смерка́ется, дава́й возвраща́ться обра́тно.
u-zhé smeer-ká-ee-tsa, da-váî vaz-vra-schá-tsa ab-rát-na
It's getting dark, let's go back.
Negative sentences: when action did not happen
As we said above, when subject fails to perform an expected action, we use perfective verbs. However, if an action did not happen for any other reason, use imperfective verbs:
-
Извини́те, мы ра́ньше не встреча́лись?
eez-vee-née-tee, my rán'-she nye vstrye-chá-lees'
Excuse me, have we met before?
-
Вино́вников инциде́нта реши́ли в э́тот раз не нака́зывать.
vee-nóv-nee-kaf een-tsee-dyén-ta ree-shée-lee v é-tat ras nye na-ká-zy-vat'
It was decided not to punish the perpetrators of the incident this time.
-
Она́ ни о чём меня́ не проси́ла.
a-ná nee a chyom mee-nyá nye pra-sée-la
She didn’t ask me anything.
It includes all the sentences with никогда (you can think of it as something that did not happen multiple times – repetition):
-
Роди́тели никогда́ не нака́зывали его́ за плохи́е оце́нки.
ra-dée-tee-lee nee-kag-dá nye na-ká-zy-va-lee ye-vó za pla-hée-ye a-tsén-kee
His parents never punished him for poor grades.
-
Он никогда́ не устава́л быть до́брым к лю́дям.
on nee-kag-dá nye us-ta-vál byt' dób-rym k lyú-dyam
He was never tired of being kind to people.
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Я никогда́ не понима́ла, как э́то рабо́тает.
ya nee-kag-dá nye pa-nee-má-la kak é-ta ra-bó-ta-yet
I never understood how this works.
Negative sentences: action is not desired or necessary
With words не надо, не нужно, не следует and all other cases when the action is not needed, not necessary or not desired, use imperfective verbs:
-
Не на́до расстра́иваться и́з-за де́нег, они́ прихо́дят и ухо́дят.
nye ná-da rast-rá-ee-va-tsa eez-za dyé-nyek, a-neé pree-hó-dyat ee u-hó-dyat
No need to be upset about the money, it comes and goes.
-
Тебе́ не сле́довало их обма́нывать.
tee-byé nye slyé-da-va-la eeh ab-má-ny-vat'
You shouldn't have deceived them.
This includes sentences with хватит:
-
Стоп, хва́тит руга́ться!
stop, hvá-teet ru-gá-tsa
Stop, enough arguing!
-
Хва́тит ду́ться!
hvá-teet dú-tsa
Enough sulking!
Describing a state
When verb describes rather a state than an action, use imperfective verbs:
-
Я ма́ло об э́том зна́ю.
ya má-la ab é-tam zná-yu
I do not know much about it.
-
Я не совсе́м понима́ю ваш вопро́с.
ya nye saf-syém pa-nee-má-yu vash va-prós
I don't quite understand your question.
Verb + infinitive
РЕШАТЬ/РЕШИТЬ (to decide) + infinitive:
ХОТЕТЬ/ЗАХОТЕТЬ (to want) + infinitive:
With such verbs as решать/решать or хотеть/захотеть, it all depends on whether the intended action requires a specific result (needs to be completed – perfective verbs):
-
Он реши́л измени́ть и́мидж и ко́ротко постри́гся.
on ree-sheél eez-mee-néet' ée-meedzh ee kó-rat-la past-réek-sya
He decided to change his image and cut his hair short.
-
Мы реши́ли пожени́ться.
my ree-shée-lee pa-zhee-née-tsa
We decided to get married.
-
Оте́ц хоте́л, что́бы она́ вы́шла за́муж за како́го-нибу́дь богача́, а не работя́гу.
a-tyéts ha-tyél, chtó-by a-ná výsh-la zámush za ka-kó-va nee-bút' ba-ga-chá, a nye ra-ba-tyá-gu
Her father wanted her to marry someone rich, not a blue-collar worker.
-
Я хоте́ла зайти́ в апте́ку, но там бы́ло закры́то.
ya ha-tyé-la zaî-tée v ap-tyé-ku, no tam bý-la za-krý-ta
I wanted to go to the pharmacy, but it was closed there.
Or the action is intended to be repeated or spread over time:
-
Он реши́л класть по 50 рубле́й в копи́лку ка́ждый день.
on ree-shéel klast' pa 50 rub-lyéi f ka-péel-ku kázh-dyi dyen'
He decided to put 50 rubles into a piggy bank every day.
-
Он хоте́л приноси́ть по́льзу лю́дям.
on ha-tyél pree-na-séet' pól'-zu lyú-dyam
He wanted to help people.
-
У него́ есть все ка́чества, кото́рые же́нщина хоте́ла бы ви́деть в мужчи́не.
u nee-vó yest' vsye ká-cheest-va, ka-tó-ry-ye zhén-schee-na ha-tyé-la by vée-dyet' v mu-schée-nye
He has all the qualities that a woman would like to see in a man.
If the infinitive comes with не, then the action will not be completed, therefore use imperfective verbs:
-
Вино́вников инциде́нта реши́ли в э́тот раз не нака́зывать.
vee-nóv-nee-kaf een-tsee-dyén-ta ree-shée-lee v é-tat ras nye na-ká-zy-vat'
It was decided not to punish the perpetrators of the incident this time.
УСПЕВАТЬ/УСПЕТЬ (to have enough time, to make it) + infinitive:
When an infinitive follows успевать/успеть, it always implies a completed action, so use perfective verbs:
-
А вы уже́ успе́ли запасти́сь пода́рками к Но́вому Году?
a vy u-zhé us-pyé-lee za-pas-tées' pa-dár-ka-mee k nó-va-mu gó-du
Have you managed to get presents for the New Year already?
-
Захва́ченный враспло́х, он не успе́л сообрази́ть что происхо́дит.
za-hvá-chyen-nyî vrasp-lóh, on nye us-pyél sa-ab-ra-zéet' chto pra-ees-hó-deet
Captured unawares, he did not have time to figure out what was happening.
НАЧИНАТЬ/НАЧАТЬ (to start, to begin) + infinitive:
ЗАКАНЧИВАТЬ/ЗАКОНЧИТЬ (to finish, to end) + infinitive:
ПРОДОЛЖАТЬ/ПРОДОЛЖИТЬ (to continue) + infinitive:
Actions that are starting, continuing or finishing are always seen as ongoing, so use imperfective infinitive after these verbs:
-
Го́сти на́чали зева́ть от ску́ки.
gós-tee ná-chee-lee zee-vát' at skú-kee
The guests began to yawn with boredom.
-
Цветы́ на подоко́ннике на́чали вя́нуть без воды́.
tsvye-tý na pa-da-kón-nee-kye ná-cha-lee vyá-nut' byez va-dý
The flowers on the windowsill began to wilt without water.
-
Вчера́ ве́чером на меня́ снизошло вдохнове́ние и я наконе́ц-то зако́нчила писа́ть дипло́м.
fchee-rá vyé-chee-ram na mee-nyá snee-zash-ló vdah-na-vyé-nee-ye ee ya na-ka-nyéts-ta za-kón-chee-la pee-sát' deep-lóm
Last night I got inspired and I finally finished my diploma.
-
Он зако́нчил рабо́тать в 11 часо́в ве́чера.
on za-kón-cheel ra-bó-tat' v a-dée-na-tsat' chee-sóf vyé-chye-ra
He finished working at 11 pm.
-
Ему́ продолжа́ли ве́рить, несмотря́ на то, что его́ прогно́зы никогда́ не сбыва́лись.
ye-mú pra-dal-zhá-lee vyé-reet', nee-smat-ryá na to, chto ye-vó prag-nó-zy nee-kag-dá nye sby-vá-lees'
They continued to believe him, despite the fact that his predictions never came true.
УЧИТЬСЯ/НАУЧИТЬСЯ (to learn) + infinitive:
ЛЮБИТЬ/ПОЛЮБИТЬ (to love) + infinitive:
When you talk about learning or loving to do something, you are describing an activity. Activity is an ongoing process and always comes with an imperfective verb:
-
Сего́дня мы бу́дем учи́ться счита́ть по-ру́сски.
see-vód-nya my bú-deem u-chée-tsa schee-tát' pa-rús-kee
Today we will learn to count in Russian.
-
Е́сли не научи́ться проща́ть, мо́жно оста́ться в го́рдом одино́честве.
yés-lee nye na-u-chée-tsa pra-schát', mózh-na as-tá-tsa v gór-dam a-dee-nó-cheest-vye
If you do not learn to forgive, you can find yourself alone (lit. - in proud loneliness).
-
Мой па́рень лю́бит путеше́ствовать, а я домосе́дка.
moî pá-reen' lyú-beet pu-tee-shést-va-vat', a ya da-ma-syét-ka
My boyfriend loves to travel, but I am a homebody.
-
Я люблю́ ходи́ть босико́м по траве́.
ya lyub-lyú ha-déet' ba-see-kóm pa tra-vyé
I like walking barefoot on the grass.
Sentences with modals (нельзя, пора, etc.)
НЕЛЬЗЯ:
When нельзя is used in the sense of prohibition, use imperfective verbs (do not do it EVER – repetition):
-
Здесь нельзя́ фотографи́ровать.
zdyes' neel'-zyá fa-ta-gra-fée-ra-vat'
You can not take pictures here.
-
Дели́ть на ноль нельзя́.
dee-léet' na nol' neel'-zyá
You can not divide by zero.
-
Микроволно́вку нельзя́ мыть со́дой и други́ми абрази́вными сре́дствами.
meek-ra-val-nóf-ku neel'-zyá myt' só-daî ee dru-gée-mee ab-ra-zéev-ny-mee sryéts-tva-mee
The microwave can not be washed with soda and other abrasive products.
But be careful, when нельзя means rather “impossible / can’t be achieved“, then a perfective verb should be used:
-
Неуже́ли ничего́ нельзя́ сде́лать?
nee-u-zhé-lee nee-chee-vó neel'-zya sdyé-lat'
Is it really that nothing can be done?
ПОРА:
When “it’s time to do something” (пора), we often use imperfective verbs:
-
Повесели́лись и хва́тит, пора́ возвраща́ться к рабо́те!
pa-vee-see-lée-lees' ee hvá-teet, pa-rá vazv-ra-schá-tsa k ra-bó-tye
That's enough enjoying ourselves, it's time to get back to work!
-
Холода́ет, пора́ достава́ть пухови́к.
ha-la-dá-eet, pa-rá das-ta-vát' pu-ha-véek
It's getting cold, time to take out the down jacket.
-
Все к столу́! Пора́ обе́дать.
fsye k sta-lú! pa-rá a-byé-dat'
Everybody to the table! It's time to have lunch.
Unless it’s really a high time to do and complete this action as soon as possible, then use perfective verbs:
-
Здесь давно́ пора́ сде́лать убо́рку.
zdyes' dav-nó pa-rá sdyé-lat' u-bór-ku
It's high time to do the cleaning here.
-
Полы́ давно́ пора́ пропылесо́сить.
pa-lý dav-nó pa-rá pra-py-lee-só-seet'
It's high time to vacuum the floors.
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Пора́ тебе́, Ди́ма, остепени́ться!
pa-rá tee-byé, Dée-ma, as-tee-pee-née-tsa
It's time for you, Dima, to settle down!
Confusing cases
Some cases can be especially confusing as they defeat the main logic to some extend:
Negative imperative
When giving a command not to do something, even if it’s just here and now, Russians usually mean “do not EVER do it”, so it’s a sort of a repetition again – use imperfective verbs:
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Не ставь ко́фе так бли́зко к ноутбу́ку.
nye stáf' kó-fye tak blées-ka k no-ut-bú-ku
Don't put coffee so close to your laptop.
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Не извиня́йтесь, э́то моя́ вина́.
nye eez-vee-nyáî-tyes', é-ta ma-yá vee-ná
Don't apologize, this was my fault.
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Да ла́дно, не обижа́йся, я же про́сто шучу́!
da lád-na, nye a-bee-zhái-sya, ya zhe prós-ta shu-chú
Come on, don't get offended, I'm just joking!
Polite addresses
In polite questions about a single action or in polite commands to perform one, we also use imperfective verbs:
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Вы бу́дете плати́ть нали́чными и́ли по ка́рте?
vy bú-dee-tye pla-téet' na-léech-ny-mee ée-lee pa kár-tye
Will you pay in cash or by a card?
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Вы выхо́дите на сле́дующей остано́вке?
vy vy-hó-dee-tye na slyé-du-yu-schyeî as-ta-nóf-kee
Are you getting off at the next stop?
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Входи́те!
vha-dée-tee
Come in!
And this is it for this lesson. We hope you find it helpful. If you want to test yourself, you are welcome to take a quiz!
