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IMPERFECTIVE · PROCESS писа́ть to write, be writing, write regularly PERFECTIVE · RESULT написа́ть to write it, finish writing it
Most verbs come in a pair. Often the perfective just adds a prefix: на- here.
Topic practice·вид глаго́ла · aspect

Russian aspect practice: process or result?

Aspect is how a verb presents an action: as a process or habit (imperfective) or as one complete event with a result (perfective). Every question gives you both verbs of a pair. Read the clue words, then decide.

A2–B224 questionsAnswered 0 · right 0
Sets
Habit or one time? Process or result? Sequences and interruptions Commands Negation and “need to” Start, finish, continue

Habit or one time?

Repeated actions and habits are imperfective. One specific action, done once, is perfective. Aspect guide →

CLUES FOR IMPERFECTIVE CLUES FOR PERFECTIVE ка́ждый деньча́стовсегда́до́лговдругсра́зууже́наконе́ц every dayoftenalwaysfor a long timesuddenlyat oncealready (done)finally
Words for frequency and duration point to the imperfective; words for a single moment or a reached result point to the perfective.
  1. 01 · clue: ка́ждое у́тро Ка́ждое у́тро я … зу́бы. Every morning I brush my teeth.
  2. 02 · clue: сего́дня, once Сего́дня я … тебе́ письмо́. Today I’ll write you a letter.
  3. 03 · clue: ча́сто Он ча́сто … мне. He often called me.
  4. 04 · clue: вчера́, once Вчера́ он … мне. He called me yesterday.

Process or result?

If the focus is the result (the thing is done, finished, ready), use the perfective. If the focus is the activity itself, or how long it took, use the imperfective. Aspect guide →

  1. 01 · clue: весь ве́чер Я весь ве́чер … кни́гу. I spent the whole evening reading a book.
  2. 02 · clue: уже́ Я уже́ … э́ту кни́гу. I’ve already read this book.
  3. 03 · clue: за час Она́ … статью́ за час. She wrote the article in an hour.
  4. 04 · clue: два часа́ Она́ … статью́ два часа́. She was writing the article for two hours.

Sequences and interruptions

Actions that happen one after another are perfective. An action in progress when something else happened is imperfective. Aspect guide →

ONE AFTER ANOTHER BACKGROUND + EVENT встал, оде́лся, ушёл got up, got dressed, left Я чита́л, когда́ он позвони́л. I was reading when he called.
A chain of finished events is perfective. An action in progress (dashed) interrupted by a single event (dot) mixes the two.
  1. 01 · clue: and then Он … и пошёл спать. He had dinner and went to bed.
  2. 02 · clue: когда́, background Когда́ я … , пошёл дождь. While I was walking, it started to rain.
  3. 03 · clue: пока́, meanwhile Пока́ ма́ма … , я убира́л. While Mum cooked, I tidied up.
  4. 04 · clue: как то́лько Как то́лько я … рабо́ту, я позвоню́. As soon as I finish work, I’ll call.

Commands

A specific request is usually perfective. Invitations, encouragement (“go on!”), and commands with не are imperfective. Aspect guide →

DO IT (ONCE) DON’T DO IT Закро́й дверь. Не закрыва́й дверь. Close the door. (perfective) Don’t close the door. (imperfective)
A specific request is usually perfective; the same request with не switches to the imperfective.
  1. 01 · clue: one request …, пожа́луйста, окно́. Please open the window.
  2. 02 · clue: не Не … окно́, хо́лодно. Don’t open the window, it’s cold.
  3. 03 · clue: invitation …, сади́тесь! Come in, sit down!
  4. 04 · clue: one request … мне, когда́ прие́дешь. Call me when you arrive.

Negation and “need to”

With не, the imperfective often means “there’s no need” or “it wasn’t done at all”. The perfective with не often means “couldn’t, didn’t manage to”. Aspect guide →

  1. 01 · clue: не на́до Не на́до … дверь. There’s no need to close the door.
  2. 02 · clue: на́до, once На́до … дверь. The door needs closing.
  3. 03 · clue: не, at all Я не … э́тот фильм. I haven’t seen this film.
  4. 04 · clue: не, failed Я не … зада́чу. I didn’t manage to solve the problem.

Start, finish, continue

After verbs meaning “start”, “finish”, “continue” and “stop”, always use an imperfective infinitive. Aspect guide →

  1. 01 · clue: начала́ Она́ начала́ … по-ру́сски. She began to speak Russian.
  2. 02 · clue: ко́нчил Он ко́нчил … письмо́. He finished writing the letter.
  3. 03 · clue: продолжа́й Продолжа́й …! Keep reading!
  4. 04 · clue: переста́л Он переста́л … He stopped smoking.