Russian Verb Practice: Present, Past and Future

сейча́с

Present tense

Pick the ending that matches the subject. Type 1 verbs have е in their endings, type 2 verbs have и. Present tense guide →

Most verbs follow one of these two patterns. To conjugate is to give a verb the ending that matches its subject.

Choose the verbA1 Ты … по-ру́сски? Do you speak Russian?

Choose the verbA1 Мы … му́зыку. We listen to music.

Choose the verbA1 Они́ … в Москве́. They live in Moscow.

Choose the verbA2 Я … чай. I drink tea.

вчера́

Past tense

Choose the ending for the subject’s gender or number. Past tense guide →

The past tense is the stem plus -л, then an ending for gender or plural. There is no person ending.

Choose the verbA1 Ма́ма … письмо́. Mum wrote a letter.

Choose the verbA1 Мы … в па́рке. We went for a walk in the park.

Choose the verbA2 Письмо́ … The letter arrived.

Choose the verbA2 Где ты … вчера́? (to a man) Where were you yesterday?

за́втра

Future tense

For a process or a habit, use бу́ду plus the imperfective infinitive. For one completed action, use the perfective verb with present endings. Future tense guide →

The dashed line is an ongoing action; the dot marks a finished result. Aspect, the process-or-result choice, decides which future you use.

Choose the verbA2 За́втра я … весь день. Tomorrow I’ll be working all day.

Choose the verbA2 Я … тебе́ ве́чером. I’ll call you this evening.

Choose the verbA2 Ты … ко́фе? Will you have a coffee?

Choose the verbB1 Они́ … дом к ле́ту. They’ll build the house by the summer.

-ся

Reflexive verbs

A reflexive verb ends in -ся (after a consonant) or -сь (after a vowel). Often the action turns back on the subject: мыть, to wash; мы́ться, to wash yourself. Reflexive verbs guide →

Choose the verbA1 Как вас …? What is your name? (polite)

Choose the verbA1 Я … в шко́ле. I study at school.

Choose the verbA2 Фильм … в во́семь. The film starts at eight.

Choose the verbA2 Мне … э́тот го́род. I like this city.

!

Commands

The imperative is the form for commands and requests. Add -те for вы, the polite or plural “you”. Imperative guide →

Choose the commandA1 …, пожа́луйста! Come in, please! (to a stranger)

Choose the commandA1 … сюда́! Look here! (to a friend)

Choose the commandA2 Не …! Don’t worry!

Choose the commandB1 … мне ваш па́спорт. Give me your passport.

бы

“Would”: the conditional

Russian forms “would” with the past tense plus the small word бы. The same form covers “would”, “would have” and wishes. Conditional guide →

Choose the verbB1 Я бы … ко́фе. I’d drink a coffee. (said by a man)

Choose the wordB1 Е́сли … у меня́ бы́ло вре́мя… If I had time…

Choose the verbB1 Она́ бы … , но была́ занята́. She would have come, but she was busy.

Choose the wordB1 Я хоте́л … пойти́ с ва́ми. I’d like to go with you.

Russian verb and tense practice