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All Russian activities

Activities: Imperfective vs. perfective aspect in Russian

By: Anna Classing

Activity 1: Aspect pairs

Several aspect pairs are listed below. Choose which verb in the pair to use in each sentence, and put it into the correct form.

  1. Imperfective: пить transcribed peet
    Perfective: выпить transcribed VYpit
    Translation: to drink

    • Я хочу кофе.
      Translation: I want to drink coffee.
    • Я хочу .
      Translation: I want to drink.

  2. Imperfective: спрашивать transcribed SPRAshyvat
    Perfective: спросить transcribed spraSEET
    Translation: to ask

    • Когда Андрей был маленьким, он часто родителей, почему у него нет брата или сестры.
      Translation: When Andrew was small, he often asked (his) parents why he didn’t have any brothers or sisters.
    • Однажды маленький Андрей родителей, почему у него нет брата или сестры.
      Translation: Once little Andrew asked (his) parents why he didn’t have any brothers or sisters.

  3. Imperfective: приходить transcribed prikhaDEET
    Perfective: прийти transcribed priyTEE
    Translation: to come

    • Пока тебя не было, Света. Она сейчас с мамой на кухне чай пьёт.
      Translation: While you were gone, Sveta came. She is now drinking tea with mom in the kitchen.
    • Пока тебя не было, Света. Она оставила тебе записку.
      Translation: While you were gone, Sveta came. She left a note for you.

  4. Imperfective: учить transcribed ooCHEET
    Perfective: выучить transcribed VYoochit
    Translation: to learn

    • Я не немецкий язык, он мне не понадобится.
      Translation: I won’t study German, I will not need it.
    • Я не немецкий язык за три месяца, это нереально.
      Translation: I won’t learn German in three months, it’s unreal.

  5. Imperfective: показывать transcribed paKAzyvat
    Perfective: показать transcribed pakaZAT
    Translation: to show

    • Вчера с 2 до 5 я покупателям квартиру.
      Translation: Yesterday from 2 to 5 I was showing the apartment to buyers.
    • Вчера я квартиру четырём покупателям.
      Translation: Yesterday I showed the apartment to four buyers.

  6. Imperfective: готовить transcribed gaTOvit
    Perfective: приготовить transcribed prigaTOvit
    Translation: to cook

    • Саша ужин и потом посмотрела фильм.
      Translation: Sasha cooked dinner and then watched a movie.
    • Саша ужин и смотрела фильм.
      Translation: Sasha was cooking dinner and watching a movie.

  7. Imperfective: есть transcribed yest
    Perfective: съесть transcribed syest
    Translation: to eat

    • О, я знаю, что такое щи! Я этот суп когда жила в России!
      Translation: Oh, I know what shchi is! I ate this soup when I was living in Russia!
    • Я не голодная, спасибо! Я только что тарелку щей.
      Translation: I am not hungry, thank you! I have just eaten a bowl of shchi.

  8. Imperfective: встречать transcribed fstriCHAT
    Perfective: встретить transcribed FSTRYEtit
    Translation: to meet

    • Мне надо сестру в аэропорту, она прилетает завтра вечером.
      Translation: I need to meet (my) sister at the airport, she is coming tomorrow evening.
    • Мне не надо сестру в аэропорту, она заболела и не сможет приехать.
      Translation: I don’t need to meet (my) sister at the airport, she fell sick and cannot come.

Activity 2: Pick the right verb

Choose the best verb (imperfective/perfective) to describe the situation in the photos.

  1. - Что [ / ]? - Я [ / ] пыль и [ / ] вазу. Она [ / ] и [ / ].

    - What happened?
    - I was dusting (literally: wiping dust) and hit the vase. It fell and got broken.

    A photo of a broken glass on the floor.

  2. - Добрый день! Я могу вам чем-нибудь [ / ]? - Да, я [ / ] блузку для офиса. Я недавно [ / ] работу, и в новой компании люди [ / ] очень элегантно.

    - Good afternoon! Can I help you in any way?
    - Yes, I am looking for an office blouse. I have recently changed jobs, and in the new company people dress really smartly.

    A photo of a woman looking through a bunch of bright-colored dresses on hangers.

  3. Если вы [ / ] на графики за прошлый месяц, вы [ / ], что продажи этой модели резко [ / ] после новогодних праздников.

    If you look at the diagrams for the past month, you will see that sales of this design soared after the New Year holidays.

    A group of four men in business attire sitting around a table and discussing some papers.

  4. - Твоя дочь [ / ] в Академию Художеств? - Да, она всегда [ / ] [ / ] и [ / ] [ / ] профессиональным художником.

    - Is your daughter applying to the Academy of Fine Art?
    - Yes, she has always loved drawing and decided to become a professional artist.

    A photo of a woman painting a portrait.