English “study” is four different Russian verbs; “put” is three, chosen by the shape of the object. This guide takes eight such groups and shows exactly what each word means and which grammar it needs, so you can pick the right one every time.
A bottle is “stood” on the table, a book is “laid” on it, a coat is “hung” on a hook. Russian always says which.
English uses one verb with no preposition; Russian adds в for anything with rules and players, на for anything you play music on.
Every pair below trips up English speakers because English uses one word where Russian uses two. English has its own traps too; see our guide to commonly confused English words.
“study”: учи́ть, учи́ться, изуча́ть
Three verbs, three meanings: memorising, being a student somewhere, and studying a subject in depth. A fourth, занима́ться, means doing your homework or practising.
учи́тьu-CHEET’to learn (by heart); to teach+ accusative: what you learn
учи́тьсяu-CHEET’-sato be a student; to learn (a skill)+ где (where) or + dative
изуча́тьi-zu-CHAT’to study (a subject) in depth+ accusative: always needs an object
How to choose:Learning something by heart: учи́ть + accusative. Being a student somewhere: учи́ться + где. A subject studied seriously: изуча́ть + accusative (never alone). Doing study or an activity: занима́ться.
“put”: ста́вить, класть, ве́шать
Russian chooses the verb by the position the object ends up in. Each has a perfective partner: поста́вить, положи́ть, пове́сить.
ста́витьSTA-vit’to put (standing)perfective: поста́вить
кластьklast’to put (lying)perfective: положи́ть
ве́шатьVYE-shat’to hangperfective: пове́сить
How to choose:If it will stand upright (a glass, a chair, a bottle): ста́вить. If it will lie flat (a book, a phone, a key): класть. If it will hang (a coat, a picture): ве́шать.
“can”: мочь, уме́ть, знать
English “can” and “know” overlap in ways Russian keeps apart: being able at this moment, having a learned skill, and knowing a fact.
мочьmochcan, be able (now)+ infinitive
уме́тьu-MYET’can, know how (skill)+ infinitive
знатьznat’to know (a fact, a person)+ accusative or a что-clause
How to choose:Possible now, allowed, or physically able: мочь. A skill you have learned (swim, drive, cook): уме́ть + infinitive. A fact or a person: знать + accusative, never + infinitive.
“say, tell”: говори́ть, сказа́ть, рассказа́ть
Speaking in general, saying something once, and telling a story or describing events at length.
говори́тьga-va-REET’to speak, to talkimperfective; + на (a language: говори́ть по-ру́сски)
сказа́тьska-ZAT’to say (once)perfective; + dative (to whom)
рассказа́тьras-ka-ZAT’to tell (a story)+ о + prepositional
How to choose:Ongoing speaking, languages, or repeated saying: говори́ть. One statement, one moment: сказа́ть. Telling a story, events, what happened: расска́зывать / рассказа́ть + о.
“ask”: спра́шивать, проси́ть
Asking a question and asking for something are different verbs.
спроси́тьspra-SEET’to ask (a question)+ accusative (whom) or у + genitive
попроси́тьpa-pra-SEET’to ask for, to request+ accusative (whom) + infinitive
зада́ть вопро́сza-DAT’ vap-ROSto ask a question+ dative (to whom)
How to choose:A question, information: спра́шивать / спроси́ть. A request, a favour, a thing: проси́ть / попроси́ть. Задава́ть вопро́с is the phrase “to ask a question”.
“go”: идти́, е́хать, ходи́ть
Russian “go” says how you travel and whether it is one trip or a habit. The full system is on the verbs of motion page.
идти́it-TEEto go on foot (now, one way)unidirectional
е́хатьYE-khat’to go by transport (one way)unidirectional; + на (transport)
ходи́тьkha-DEET’to go on foot (regularly)multidirectional
How to choose:On foot, one trip now: идти́. By transport, one trip: е́хать. On foot, regularly or there and back: ходи́ть (by transport: е́здить).
“like”: нра́виться, люби́ть, хоте́ться
Liking can be a reaction, a lasting love, or a wish. The grammar differs: with нра́виться the thing you like is the subject.
нра́витьсяNRA-vit’-sato like, to pleaseperson in dative; the thing liked is the subject
люби́тьlyu-BEET’to love; to like (in general)+ accusative or infinitive
хоте́тьсяkha-TYET’-sato feel likeperson in dative + infinitive
How to choose:A first impression or a particular thing: мне нра́вится + nominative. A lasting love, a habit: люби́ть + accusative or infinitive. A wish or craving: мне хо́чется + infinitive.
“other”: друго́й, ино́й, ра́зный
Three adjectives for “other” and “different” that are not interchangeable.
друго́йdru-GOYother, anothereveryday
ино́йi-NOYother, different (formal)written style; ины́ми слова́ми: in other words
ра́зныйRAZ-nyvarious; different from each otherusually plural
How to choose:A second, another one: друго́й. Formal “other” or “different in kind”, mainly in writing: ино́й. Various, of different kinds (usually plural): ра́зный.
Check yourself
I’m learning a poem by heart.Я ___ стихотворе́ние.