Russian splits “go” by two questions: on foot or by vehicle, and one direction or back and forth. Prefixes then add the route: in, out, across, away. Each question shows the movement as an arrow once you answer.
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Four verbs for “go”. One-way verbs (blue) describe a single trip in progress; back-and-forth verbs (red) cover habits, round trips and aimless movement.
идти́ is one trip in one direction, happening now or at a set time. ходи́ть is habits, round trips, ability, or walking around.Verbs of motion guide →
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Я … домо́й.I’m going home (now).
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Я … в спортза́л три ра́за в неде́лю.I go to the gym three times a week.
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Мы … по па́рку.We were walking around the park.
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Когда́ я … в шко́лу, я ви́дел Ива́на.On my way to school I saw Ivan.
By vehicle: е́хать or е́здить
If you use transport, Russian uses е́хать (one way) and е́здить (back and forth), even for short trips in a city.Verbs of motion guide →
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Сейча́с я … на рабо́ту на метро́.I’m on the metro to work right now.
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Ка́ждое ле́то мы … на мо́ре.Every summer we go to the seaside.
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В про́шлом году́ я … в Росси́ю.Last year I went to Russia (and came back).
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Куда́ … э́тот авто́бус?Where is this bus going?
Prefixes: in, out, arrive, leave
A prefix on идти́ or е́хать gives the route and makes the verb perfective (one complete movement).Prefixed verbs guide →
Each prefix adds a route to the verb: войти́ (go in), вы́йти (go out), прийти́ (arrive), уйти́ (leave), подойти́ (approach), перейти́ (cross). With a prefix, идти́ becomes -йти.
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Он … в ко́мнату.He came into the room.
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Её нет, она́ уже́ …She’s not here, she’s already left.
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Когда́ ты … в Москву́?When will you arrive in Moscow?
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Осторо́жно … у́лицу!Cross the street carefully!
Carrying and taking
нести́ / носи́ть is to carry on foot; везти́ / вози́ть is to take by vehicle; вести́ / води́ть is to lead a person or animal. Each pair splits one-way and back-and-forth, like идти́ and ходи́ть.Verbs of motion guide →
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Я … тебе́ пода́рок.I’m bringing you a present (on foot).
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Па́па … нас на маши́не.Dad is driving us.
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Ма́ма … сы́на в шко́лу ка́ждый день.Mum takes her son to school every day.
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Она́ всегда́ … очки́.She always wears glasses.
Position: stand, lie, sit
For where things are, Russian uses стоя́ть (stand, upright), лежа́ть (lie, flat) and сиде́ть (sit). For putting things somewhere, a different set: поста́вить, положи́ть.Verbs of position guide →
Where English says “is”, Russian picks a verb for the object’s position: bottles stand, books lie flat, birds sit.
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Буты́лка … на столе́.The bottle is on the table.
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Телефо́н … на дива́не.The phone is on the sofa.
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Пти́ца … на ве́тке.A bird is on the branch.
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Я … кни́гу на по́лку.I put the book on the shelf.
Motion without moving
Many everyday phrases use motion verbs for things that do not literally walk: rain, time, films, clothes.Verbs of motion guide →
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На у́лице … дождь.It’s raining outside.
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В кинотеа́тре … но́вый фильм.A new film is showing at the cinema.