In Russian, just like in English, there are several different ways to talk about the future. You can use:
the future tense (also called the “perfective future”)
the present tense
the imperfective future → быть transcribed bytmeaning to be + an imperfective infinitive
using various “planning” verbs + infinitive
In this post, we’ll introduce you to these different ways to express the future: how to form them and when to use them. Are you ready to have a look? Let’s see!
What is the perfective future in Russian?
In Russian, the perfective future is also known as the “future tense.” This tense gets its name because it is formed only from perfective verb stems.
How to form the perfective future in Russian?
To form the perfective future in Russian, you will follow almost the same pattern that is used to form the Russian present tense. The only difference is that where the present tense is only formed using imperfective verbs, the perfective future is only formed using perfective verbs.
Imperfective (non-past) = Present Tense
Perfective (non-past) = Perfective Future Tense
Compare:
| Infinitive | With “present tense” marking |
|---|---|
смотреть Transcription: smaTRYET Translation: to watch imperfective | смотрю Transcription: smaTRYU Translation: I am watching present tense |
посмотреть Transcription: pasmaTRYET Translation: to watch perfective | посмотрю Transcription: pasmaTRYU Translation: I will watch future tense |
When to use the perfective future in Russian?
In Russian, the perfective future is used to indicate the intention to complete an action in the future. It’s a lot like the future with “will” in English.
These examples show how perfective future verbs are used for actions that will be completed in the future.
Perfective future verbs can also be used to simply indicate that something will happen in the future regardless of the speaker’s intention to complete an action.
However, unlike the future with “will” in English, the Russian perfective future is usually not used for actions that last a long time or repeat. So you usually won’t use this tense to translate sentences with the structure “I’ll be verb-ing.”
When to use the present tense to discuss the future in Russian?
Most Russian verbs in the present tense can be used to talk about things that are going to happen in the future. You usually will do this when you are making plans or drawing up schedules.
Most often, we use the present tense to talk about the future if we are using unidirectional verbs of motion such as ехать transcribed YEkhatmeaning go by vehicle or идти transcribed iTEEmeaning go on foot or else with prefixed verbs of motion such as улетать transcribed ooliTATmeaning fly out or уезжать transcribed ooiZHATmeaning to leave.
What is the imperfective future in Russian?
In Russian, the imperfective future is formed by combining (perfective) future tense of the verb быть transcribed bytmeaning to be with an imperfective infinitive.
| быть future tense | infinitive imperfective | English |
|---|---|---|
я буду Transcription: ya BOOdoo | жить Transcription: zhyt | I will live |
мы будем Transcription: my BOOdyem | работать Transcription: raBOtat | we will work |
ты будешь Transcription: ty BOOdyesh | ждать Transcription: zhdat | you will wait |
вы будете Transcription: vy BOOditye | читать Transcription: chiTAT | you will read |
он будет Transcription: on BOOdyet | писать Transcription: piSAT | he will write |
она будет Transcription: aNA BOOdyet | играть Transcription: igRAT | she will play |
они будут Transcription: aNEE BOOdoot | смотреть Transcription: smatRYET | they will watch |
If you want to remember this, remember that the verb быть transcribed bytmeaning to be has the same root as the word for “future” in Russian is будущее transcribed BOOdooshchiye!
When to use the imperfective future?
The imperfective future in Russian is used to indicate that an action could go on for some time, even if that length of time is only implied. You can see this in the examples in the table above, or in the examples below:
In addition, this type of future could indicate that an action will repeat a certain number of times. In this context, it is often used with adverbs of time (frequency) such as всегда transcribed fsigDAmeaning always, часто transcribed CHAstameaning often, редко transcribed RYEtkameaning rarely, никогда transcribed nikagDAmeaning never, etc.
How to express the future using “planning” verbs?
The future can also be expressed by using the present tense of a “planning” verb like verbs that refer to future plans such as собираться transcribed sabiRAtsameaning to get ready and планировать transcribed plaNEEravatmeaning to plan + an infinitive (either perfective or imperfective).
- present tenseimperfective infinitiveМои родственники планируют строить дом.Transcription: maEE ROtstviniki plaNEErooyut STROit domTranslation: My relatives are planning on building a house.
- present tenseperfective infinitiveМои родственники планируют построить дом.Transcription: maEE ROtstviniki plaNEErooyut paSTROit domTranslation: My relatives are planning on building a house.
As the translations above suggest, these two sentences above are very similar in meaning. The only difference is that using the imperfective infinitive implies that it will take time to build a house, while using the perfective aspect focuses on the intention to complete the building of a house.
Conclusion
In this post, we have tried to uncover some of the mysteries of the future in Russian. In particular, we investigated how the future can be expressed in Russian. To sum up, there are four ways to express the future in Russian, such as...
using perfective verbs in the future tense
using present tense
using the imperfective future with быть + imperfective infinitive
using present tense “planning” verbs + infinitive
Now let’s see how well you can talk about the future! Download the activities below to test your skills!
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