8 Simple Rules for Russian Verb Conjugation

Russian verbs change according to their tense, person, and number. This guide to Russian verb conjugation provides basic rules for conjugating regular verbs in the present tense. The Russian present tense is simpler than the English present tense, as there is only one present tense verb form. To illustrate this point, consider the sentence Ã'  Ã'‡Ð ¸Ã'‚Ð °Ã'Ž. This statement can mean I read, I have been reading, or I am reading. Thanks to this simplified present tense, basic verb conjugation in Russian is easier than you might expect. Follow these eight steps to begin conjugating Russian verbs. Rule 1: Russian Verb Forms Russian verbs have six forms in the present tense: 1st person, 2nd person, and 3rd person, all of which can be singular or plural. The verb ending tells us the point of view (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) and the number (singular/plural) of the verb. Rule 2: Verb Conjugation Groups There are two groups of verb conjugation in Russian: first conjugation and second conjugation. First conjugation verbs have the endings -Ã'Æ' (-Ã'Ž),  -Ð µÃ'ˆÃ'Å' (-Ã'‘Ã'ˆÃ'Å'),  -Ð µÃ'‚ (-Ã'‘Ã'‚),  -Ð µÃ ¼ (-Ã'‘Ð ¼),  -Ð µÃ'‚Ð µ (-Ã'‘Ã'‚Ð µ), and -Ã'Æ'Ã'‚ (-Ã'ŽÃ'‚). Second conjugation verbs have the endings -Ã'Æ' (-Ã'Ž),  -Ð ¸Ã'ˆÃ'Å',  -Ð ¸Ã'‚,  -Ð ¸Ã ¼,  -Ð ¸Ã'‚Ð µ,  -Ð °Ã'‚ (-Ã' Ã'‚).   Rule 3: How to Check a Conjugation Group There are two ways to determine a verbs conjugation group. First, look at the personal ending if it is under stress: Ð ¿Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å' – Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã'‘Ã'ˆÃ'Å', Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã'‘Ã'‚, Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã'ŽÃ'‚ (first conjugation)Ð ³Ã'€Ð µÃ ¼Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å' – Ð ³Ã'€Ð µÃ ¼Ã ¸Ã'ˆÃ'Å', Ð ³Ã'€Ð µÃ ¼Ã ¸Ã'‚ (second conjugation) Second, if the personal ending is not stressed, look at the suffix before the ending -Ã'‚Ã'Å' in the infinitive form of the verb and follow these steps. Put the verb in its infinitive, e.g. Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã µÃ'‚ - Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã'‚Ã'Å'Check which vowel comes before the ending -Ã'‚Ã'Å'. For example: in Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã'‚Ã'Å', it is Ã' .Use these rules to determine whether the verb is first or second conjugation. Rule 4: Endings in Second Conjugation Verbs Second conjugation verbs are: All verbs ending in -Ð ¸Ã'‚Ã'Å' in their infinitive form (exceptions: Ð ±Ã'€Ð ¸Ã'‚Ã'Å', Ã' Ã'‚Ð µÃ »Ã ¸Ã'‚Ã'Å')7 verbs ending with -Ð µÃ'‚Ã'Å': Ã' Ã ¼Ã ¾Ã'‚Ã'€Ð µÃ'‚Ã'Å', Ð ²Ã ¸Ã ´Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å', Ð ½Ã µÃ ½Ã °Ã ²Ã ¸Ã ´Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å', Ð ·Ã °Ã ²Ã ¸Ã' Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å', Ã'‚Ð µÃ'€Ð ¿Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å', Ð ¾Ã ±Ã ¸Ã ´Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å', Ð ²Ã µÃ'€Ã'‚Ð µÃ'‚Ã'Å'4 verbs ending with -Ð °Ã'‚Ã'Å': Ã' Ã »Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ °Ã'‚Ã'Å', Ð ´Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ °Ã'‚Ã'Å', Ð ³Ã ½Ã °Ã'‚Ã'Å', Ð ´Ã µÃ'€Ð ¶Ã °Ã'‚Ã'Å'All derivatives of these verbs, e.g. Ð ¿Ã µÃ'€Ð µÃ ³Ã ½Ã °Ã'‚Ã'Å', Ð ¿Ã'€Ð ¾Ã' Ã ¼Ã ¾Ã'‚Ã'€Ð µÃ'‚Ã'Å' Rule 5: Endings in First Conjugation Verbs First Conjugation verbs are those that in their infinitive form end in -Ð µÃ'‚Ã'Å', -Ð °Ã'‚Ã'Å', -Ã' Ã'‚Ã'Å', -Ð ¾Ã'‚Ã'Å', -Ã'Æ'Ã'‚Ã'Å', -Ã'‹Ã'‚Ã'Å'. Rule 6: How to Remember The Correct Conjugation Group Heres a helpful poem to remember which verbs are in the second conjugation group. КÐ ¾ Ð ²Ã'‚Ð ¾Ã'€Ð ¾Ã ¼Ã'Æ' Ð ¶Ã µ Ã' Ã ¿Ã'€Ã' Ã ¶Ã µÃ ½Ã'Å'Ã'ŽÐžÃ'‚Ð ½Ã µÃ' Ã µÃ ¼ Ð ¼Ã'‹ Ð ±Ã µÃ · Ã' Ã ¾Ã ¼Ã ½Ã µÃ ½Ã'Å'Ã' Ãâ€™Ã' Ã µ Ð ³Ã »Ã °Ã ³Ã ¾Ã »Ã'‹, Ã'‡Ã'‚Ð ¾ Ð ½Ã ° –Ð ¸Ã'‚Ã'Å',ИÃ' Ã ºÃ »Ã'ŽÃ'‡Ð °Ã'  Ð ±Ã'€Ð ¸Ã'‚Ã'Å', Ã' Ã'‚Ð µÃ »Ã ¸Ã'‚Ã'Å',Ð  Ð µÃ'‰Ð µ: Ã' Ã ¼Ã ¾Ã'‚Ã'€Ð µÃ'‚Ã'Å', Ð ¾Ã ±Ã ¸Ã ´Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å', Ã' Ã »Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ °Ã'‚Ã'Å', Ð ²Ã ¸Ã ´Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å', Ð ½Ã µÃ ½Ã °Ã ²Ã ¸Ã ´Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å',Ð ³Ã ½Ã °Ã'‚Ã'Å', Ð ´Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ °Ã'‚Ã'Å', Ð ´Ã µÃ'€Ð ¶Ã °Ã'‚Ã'Å', Ã'‚Ð µÃ'€Ð ¿Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å',Ð ¸ Ð ·Ã °Ã ²Ã ¸Ã' Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å', Ð ¸ Ð ²Ã µÃ'€Ã'‚Ð µÃ'‚Ã'Å'. Rule 7: Finding The Stem To find the stem of a verb, take away the last letter from the first person singular form of the verb (Ã' ). For example, Ã'  Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã'Ž becomes Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' . Next, take off the last three letters the ending from the second person singular form of the verb (Ã'‚Ã'‹). For example, Ã'‚Ã'‹ Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã µÃ'ˆÃ'Å' becomes Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' . Finally, compare the two results. If they are the same, either result is the stem. If they are not the same, then the second result is the stem. Rule 8: Attaching The Ending Take the stem of your verb (Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' ) and find the correct ending based on the verbs conjugation group. If it is a first conjugation verb, use the endings -Ã'Æ' (-Ã'Ž),  -Ð µÃ'ˆÃ'Å' (-Ã'‘Ã'ˆÃ'Å'),  -Ð µÃ'‚ (-Ã'‘Ã'‚),  -Ð µÃ ¼ (-Ã'‘Ð ¼),  -Ð µÃ'‚Ð µ (-Ã'‘Ã'‚Ð µ), and -Ã'Æ'Ã'‚ (-Ã'ŽÃ'‚). If it is a second conjugation verb, use the endings -Ã'Æ' (-Ã'Ž),  -Ð ¸Ã'ˆÃ'Å',  -Ð ¸Ã'‚,  -Ð ¸Ã ¼,  -Ð ¸Ã'‚Ð µ,  -Ð °Ã'‚ (-Ã' Ã'‚). Exceptions Some verbs are conjugated with endings from both the first and the second conjugation forms. For example: Ã'  Ã'…Ð ¾Ã'‡Ã'Æ' (ya khaCHOO) - I wantÃ'‚Ã'‹ Ã'…Ð ¾Ã'‡Ð µÃ'ˆÃ'Å' (ty KHOchysh) - you wantÐ ¾Ã ½ / Ð ¾Ã ½Ã ° Ã'…Ð ¾Ã'‡Ð µÃ'‚ (on / aNA KHOchyt) - he / she wantsÐ ¼Ã'‹ Ã'…Ð ¾Ã'‚Ð ¸Ã ¼ (my khaTEEM) - we wantÐ ²Ã'‹ Ã'…Ð ¾Ã'‚Ð ¸Ã'‚Ð µ (vy khaTEEty) - you wantÐ ¾Ã ½Ã ¸ Ã'…Ð ¾Ã'‚Ã' Ã'‚ (aNEE khaTYAT) - they want Ã'  Ð ±Ã µÃ ³Ã'Æ' (ya byeGOO) - I am running / I runÃ'‚Ã'‹ Ð ±Ã µÃ ¶Ã ¸Ã'ˆÃ'Å' (ty byeZHYSH) - you (singular / familiar) are running / you runÐ ¾Ã ½ / Ð ¾Ã ½Ã ° Ð ±Ã µÃ ¶Ã ¸Ã'‚ (on / aNA byZHYT) - he / she is running / he / she runsÐ ¼Ã'‹ Ð ±Ã µÃ ¶Ã ¸Ã ¼ (my byZHYM) - we are running / we runÐ ²Ã'‹ Ð ±Ã µÃ ¶Ã ¸Ã'‚Ð µ (vy byZHYty) - you (plural) are running / you runÐ ¾Ã ½Ã ¸ Ð ±Ã µÃ ³Ã'Æ'Ã'‚ (aNEE byGOOT) - they are running / they run First Conjugation Example Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã'‚Ã'Å' (gooLYAT) - to walk, to strollÐ ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã'  - the verbs stem Ã'  Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã'Ž (ya gooLYAyu) - I am walking / I walkÃ'‚Ã'‹ Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã µÃ'ˆÃ'Å' (ty gooLYAysh) - you (singular / familiar) are walking / you walkÐ ¾Ã ½/Ð ¾Ã ½Ã ° Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã µÃ'‚ (on/aNA gooLYAyt) - he / she is walking / he/ she walksÐ ¼Ã'‹ Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã µÃ ¼ (my gooLYAyim) - we are walking / we walkÐ ²Ã'‹ Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã µÃ'‚Ð µ (vy gooLYAytye) - you (plural) are walking / you walkÐ ¾Ã ½Ã ¸ Ð ³Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã'ŽÃ'‚ (aNEE gooLYAyut) - they are walking / they walk Second Conjugation Examples Ð ´Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ °Ã'‚Ã'Å' (dySHAT) - to breatheÐ ´Ã'‹Ã'ˆ - the verbs stem Ã'  Ð ´Ã'‹Ã'ˆÃ'Æ' (ya dySHOO) - I am breathing / I breatheÃ'‚Ã'‹ Ð ´Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ ¸Ã'ˆÃ'Å' (ty DYshysh) - you (singular / familiar) are breathing / you breatheÐ ¾Ã ½/Ð ¾Ã ½Ã ° Ð ´Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ ¸Ã'‚ (on / aNA DYshyt) - he / she is breathing / he / she breathesÐ ¼Ã'‹ Ð ´Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ ¸Ã ¼ (my DYshym) - we are breathing / we breatheÐ ²Ã'‹ Ð ´Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ ¸Ã'‚Ð µ (vy DYshytye) - you (plural) are breathing / you breatheÐ ¾Ã ½Ã ¸ Ð ´Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ °Ã'‚ (aNEE DYshut) - they are breathing / they breathe Ð ²Ã ¸Ã ´Ã µÃ'‚Ã'Å' (VEEdyt) - to seeÐ ²Ã ¸Ã ´ - the verbs stem Ã'  Ð ²Ã ¸Ã ¶Ã'Æ' (ya VEEzhoo) - I am seeing / I see*Ã'‚Ã'‹ Ð ²Ã ¸Ã ´Ã ¸Ã'ˆÃ'Å' - you (singular / familiar) are seeing/ you seeÐ ¾Ã ½ / Ð ¾Ã ½Ã ° Ð ²Ã ¸Ã ´Ã ¸Ã'‚ - he / she is seeing / he / she seesÐ ¼Ã'‹ Ð ²Ã ¸Ã ´Ã ¸Ã ¼ - we are seeing / we seeÐ ²Ã'‹ Ð ²Ã ¸Ã ´Ã ¸Ã'‚Ð µ - you (plural) are seeing / you seeÐ ¾Ã ½Ã ¸ Ð ²Ã ¸Ã ´Ã' Ã'‚ - they are seeing / they see (*Please note that in some verbs, consonants positioned before the personal endings can change. Here, Ð ´ changes to Ð ¶ in first person singular.)