Always imperfective: start, finish, continue, stop
Verbs that describe a phase of an activity (its beginning, middle or end) are about the process, so the infinitive after them is always imperfective. This is one of the few rules in aspect with no exceptions.
| Trigger | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| нача́тьto start | ya NA-chal u-CHEET’ RUS-kiЯIна́чалstartedучи́тьto learnру́сскийRussian | I started learning Russian. |
| ко́нчить / зако́нчитьto finish | a-NA za-KON-chi-la pi-SAT’ pis’-MOОна́sheзако́нчилаfinishedписа́тьto writeписьмо́letter | She finished writing the letter. |
| продолжа́тьto continue | my pra-dal-ZHA-yim ra-BO-tat’Мыweпродолжа́емcontinueрабо́татьto work | We carry on working. |
| переста́тьto stop | dozhd’ pi-ri-STAL i-TEEДождьrainпереста́лstoppedидти́to go | The rain has stopped. |
| бро́ситьto quit | on BRO-sil ku-REET’Онheбро́силquitкури́тьto smoke | He quit smoking. |
| уста́тьto get tired of | ya us-TAL zhdat’ЯIуста́лgot tiredждатьto wait | I’m tired of waiting. |
| привы́кнутьto get used to | ya pri-VYK fsta-VAT’ RA-naЯIпривы́кgot usedвстава́тьto get upра́ноearly | I’m used to getting up early. |
Want, must, can: it depends on the meaning
After хоте́ть (want), на́до (must) and мочь (can), both aspects are possible. The perfective points to one result; the imperfective talks about the activity in general or a habit. Each row below is a pair with the same trigger word.
Imperfective · activity ya lyub-LYU pa-ku-PAT’ KNEE-gi ЯIлюблю́loveпокупа́тьto buyкни́гиbooks I love buying books.
Perfective · one result ya kha-CHU ku-PEET’ E-tu KNEE-gu ЯIхочу́wantкупи́тьto buyэ́туthisкни́гуbook I want to buy this book.
Imperfective · general skill NA-da KAZH-dy dyen’ CHEES-tit’ ZU-by На́доmustка́ждыйeveryденьdayчи́ститьto brushзу́быteeth You must brush your teeth every day.
Perfective · one task mnye NA-da pa-CHEE-nit’ vi-la-si-PYET Мнеto meна́доmustпочи́нитьto repairвелосипе́дbike I need to fix my bike.
Imperfective · ability in general ty u-MYE-yish PLA-vat’ Тыyouуме́ешьcanпла́ватьto swim Can you swim?
Perfective · one occasion ty MO-zhesh at-KRYT’ ak-NO Тыyouмо́жешьcanоткры́тьto openокно́window Can you open the window?
Imperfective · how long ya ri-SHYL u-CHEET’ ki-TAY-ski ЯIреши́лdecidedучи́тьto studyкита́йскийChinese I decided to study Chinese.
Perfective · to the end ya ri-SHYL VY-u-chit’ fsye sla-VA ЯIреши́лdecidedвы́учитьto learnвсеallслова́words I decided to learn all the words (by heart).
No need, can’t and mustn’t
With negation, aspect changes the meaning sharply. The clearest case is нельзя́: with the imperfective it means “it is forbidden”; with the perfective it means “it is impossible”.
No need · imperfective ni NA-da zva-NEET’, ya sam pri-DU Неnoна́доneedзвони́тьto callяIсамmyselfприду́will come No need to call, I’ll come myself. не на́до, не ну́жно and не сто́ит are always followed by the imperfective.
Not worth it · imperfective ni STO-it smat-RYET’ E-tat film Неnotсто́итworthсмотре́тьto watchэ́тотthisфильмfilm This film isn’t worth watching. Advice not to do something at all.
Forbidden · imperfective zdyes’ nil’-ZYA ku-REET’ Здесьhereнельзя́not allowedкури́тьto smoke Smoking is not allowed here. A rule: нельзя́ + imperfective.
Impossible · perfective E-tu za-DA-chu nil’-ZYA ri-SHYT’ Э́туthisзада́чуproblemнельзя́impossibleреши́тьto solve This problem can’t be solved. Not a rule, a fact: it can’t be done.
Can’t manage · perfective ya ni ma-GU at-KRYT’ dvyer’ ЯIнеnotмогу́canоткры́тьto openдверьdoor I can’t open the door. One attempt that fails: perfective.
Don’t want to · imperfective ya ni kha-CHU ab E-tam ga-va-REET’ ЯIнеnotхочу́wantобaboutэ́томthisговори́тьto talk I don’t want to talk about it. Refusing the activity altogether usually takes the imperfective.
Other triggers
A few more words that pull the infinitive towards one aspect.
- люби́ть, нра́витьсяimperfectiveya lyub-LYU ga-TO-vit’ЯIлюблю́loveгото́витьto cook I love cooking.Liking and preference describe an activity, never a single result: imperfective only.
- пора́imperfectivepa-RA fsta-VAT’Пора́timeвстава́тьto get up Time to get up!пора́ (it’s time) means “start doing it now”, so imperfective.
- учи́тьсяimperfectivea-NA U-chit-sa va-DEET’Она́sheу́читсяlearnsводи́тьto drive She’s learning to drive.Learning a skill is about the activity.
- успе́тьperfectiveya ni us-PYEL pa-ZAF-tra-kat’ЯIнеnotуспе́лmanagedпоза́втракатьto have breakfast I didn’t have time to have breakfast.успе́ть (to manage in time) needs a completed result.
- забы́тьperfectiveya za-BYL VY-klyu-chit’ svyetЯIзабы́лforgotвы́ключитьto switch offсветlight I forgot to turn off the light.Forgetting one specific action: perfective.