Russian Verbs: Present Tense
Verbs in Russian Present Tense are used to describe: simple statements, facts, ongoing or habitual actions.
In English, there are four present tenses. In Russian they are all combined into one.
Tip: The use of Russian Present Tense depends of the context
Usage of Russian verbs in Present Tense
Russian verbs are conjugated by changing the ending.
Let's analyze our example: Ма́ша чита́ет.
Ма́ша - name of the person.
чита́ет - cojugated verb form "чита́ть" (to read).
Using Present Tense on the verb "читать" (infinitive form)
1. Determine the verb conjugation group (1st or 2nd) according to its ending. Verb "чита́ть" ends in
"ать", so it belongs to the 1st conjugation group.
2. Determine the point of view: First, Second or Third Person, Singular or Plural. Masha is the 3d person.
3. Remove "ть" from infinitive verb form. чита́ -> ть
4. Add the appropriate ending form based on the rules below. Чита́ть changes to чита́ет.
Russian Verbs: Present Tense conjugation rules
1st Conjugation group - remove "ть" from the infinitive form and add the appropriate ending.
2nd Conjugation group - remove the three last letters "ить" or "еть" and add the appropriate ending.
| 1st CONJUGATION GROUP | 2nd CONJUGATION GROUP | ||||
| Infinitive | чита́ть (to read) | меня́ть (to change) | говори́ть (to speak) | смотре́ть (to watch) | учи́ть (to learn) |
| Я - I | чита́ю | меня́ю | говорю́ | смотрю́ | учу́ |
| Ты - You (informal) | чита́ешь | меня́ешь | говори́шь | смо́тришь | у́чишь |
| Он - He | чита́ет | меня́ет | говори́т | смо́трит | у́чит |
| Оно́ - It | |||||
| Она́ - She | |||||
| Мы - We | чита́ем | меня́ем | говори́м | смо́трим | у́чим |
| Вы - You (formal/pl) | чита́ете | меня́ете | говори́те | смо́трите | у́чите |
| Они́ - They | чита́ют | меня́ют | говоря́т | смо́трят | у́чат |
Related:
Note that the 2nd Conjugation group has another verb (учи́ть) which ends in "ить", however it has a different conjugation for the 1st person and plural form. It happens when the verb is under these spelling rules
After г, ж, к, ч, ц, х, ш, щ
write у instead of ю (Я учу́)
write а instead of я (Они у́чат)
Russian Irregular verbs
Russian irregular verbs have the same ending as regular, but different conjugation forms.
It's easy to predict the ending of an irregular verb, if you know its stem.
Let's analyze verb люби́ть (to love)
ить - is the ending
люб - is the stem
Look at the last letter of the stem and use the rules below to make the correct conjugation.
"б" - is the last letter of in the stem. Accorduing to the rules, "б" becomes "бл"
Я люблю́ - correct
Я любю - incorrect
| Infinitive form | Stem final consonant | Becomes | Conjugated 1st form |
| ви́деть (to see) | г, д, з | ж | Я ви́жу́ |
| гости́ть (to guest) | ст, ск | щ | Я гощу́ |
| писа́ть (to write) | с, х | ш | Я пишу́ |
| шути́ть (to joke) | к, т | ч | Я шучу́ |
| люби́ть (to love) | б | бл | Я люблю́ |
| дави́ть (to press) | в | вл | Я давлю́ |
| корми́ть (to feed) | м | мл | Я кормлю́ |
| копи́ть (to save/save up) | п | пл | Я коплю́ |
Note that consonant change rules apply to certain verb forms:
| 1st Conjugation Group | 2nd Conjugation Group |
| all persons of the verbs with ending "ать" | 1st person (singular) verbs |
| ты, он, мы, вы (four persons) of the verbs ending "чь" |
Note: You have to memorize the conjugation group of each Verb of Motion. The conjugation form also could be different.
Example: Стоя́ть - to stand. It ends in ять. The verb is supposed to be in the 1st Conjugation group, however it conjugates according to the 2nd Conjugation group.
| стоя́ть (to stand) | бежа́ть (to run) | |
| Я - I | стою́ | бегу́ |
| Ты - You (informal) | стои́шь | бежи́шь |
| Он - He | стои́т | бежи́т |
| Оно́ - it | ||
| Она́ - She | ||
| Мы - We | строи́м | бежи́м |
| Вы - You (formal/pl) | стои́те | бежи́те |
| Они́ - They | стоя́т | бегу́т |
Related:
| Remember! Some irregular verbs have different infinitive and conjugation forms! | |||||
| Infinitive | бри́ть (to shave) | жи́ть (to live) | рисова́ть (to draw) | дава́ть (to give) | танцева́ть (to dance) |
| Я - I | бре́ю | живу́ | рису́ю | даю | танцу́ю |
| Ты - You (informal) | бре́ешь | живёшь | рису́ешь | даёшь | танцу́ешь |
| Он - He | бре́ет | живёт | рису́ет | даёт | танцу́ет |
| Оно́ - It | |||||
| Она́ - She | |||||
| Мы - We | бре́ем | живём | рису́ем | даём | танцу́ем |
| Вы - You (formal/pl) | бре́ете | живёте | рису́ете | даёте | танцу́ете |
| Они́ - They | бре́ют | живу́т | рису́ют | даю́т | танцу́ют |
Related:
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