Basic Russian Grammar: Mastering Russian First Conjugation Verbs in the Present Tense
In this post we’ll learn about Russian first conjugation verbs in the present tense. We’ll start with an overview of Russian verbs and the present tense. You’ll learn that there are two main conjugation patterns in Russian. In this post, we’ll focus on the first conjugation. (If you’d like to learn about the second conjugation, check out this post.) First, we’ll start with the pattern of endings that Russian first conjugation verbs take in the present tense. Next, we’ll see examples of Russian first conjugation verbs, both in the infinitive forms and used in sentences. After that we’ll turn to stem changing verbs, which represent a common but mostly predictable irregularity. Again, we’ll see endings and examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a few practice exercises.
Overview of the Russian Present Tense
The present tense in Russian is used to describe actions happening now, regularly, or generally. For example:
- Я читаю книгу.
I am reading a book. - Мы работаем в офисе.
We work in an office. - Она говорит по-русски.
She speaks Russian.
Notice that Russian doesn’t have a separate tense that corresponds to the English present progressive (be + –ing). It uses the regular present tense for that.
First and Second Conjugation
A key feature of Russian verbs is that they belong to two main conjugation patterns, called the first conjugation and second conjugation. Each pattern uses a different set of endings.
First conjugation verbs end in -ать, -ять, -еть, or -уть in their infinitive form. Most second conjugation verbs end in -ить in their infinitive form. But a few verbs that end in –еть or even –ать follow the second conjugation.
Aspect in Russian Verbs
In Russian, verbs come in pairs called aspects: imperfective and perfective. The difference is not about time, but about how the action is viewed. Imperfective verbs describe actions that are ongoing, repeated, habitual, or simply in progress, without focusing on completion.
- Я читаю книгу.
I am reading a book. - Я часто читаю вечером.
I often read in the evening.
Perfective verbs describe actions that are completed or viewed as a single finished event.
- Я прочитал книгу.
I finished reading the book. - Я прочитаю книгу завтра.
I will read (finish reading) the book tomorrow.
Because of this meaning, only imperfective verbs have a true present tense, while perfective verbs use their “present” forms to express the future. When it comes to form, you don’t need to worry about whether a verb is perfective or imperfective. But of course this is quite important when it comes to meaning and usage.
A Note on Russian Subject Pronouns
Here’s a quick summary of Russian subject pronouns, and what they mean.
- я: I; used to refer to oneself
- ты: you; used to address one person who you know well (family, friends, people your own age) or who are younger than you
- он: he or it; used where English uses he, but also where English uses it when referring to a masculine noun.
- она: she or it; used where English uses she, but also where English uses it when referring to a feminine noun.
- оно: it; use to refer to neuter nouns.
- мы: we; used to refer to self and others
- вы: you plural or polite; used to refer to a stranger, an older person, or someone to whom you would like to show respect. Also used in all plural contexts, like English you all, all of you, you guys, etc.
- они: they; used to refer to people, animals, or things
Russian First Conjugation Verbs: Endings
Here are the conjugation endings for the Russian present tense for each pronoun.
| Pronoun | Ending |
| я | -ю / -у |
| ты | -ешь |
| он / она / оно | -ет |
| мы | -ем |
| вы | -ете |
| они | -ют / -ут |
The difference between -у / -ю for theя form and-ут / -ют for the они form has to do with the Russian “Seven Letter” spelling rule:
- After Г, К, Х, Ж, Ч, Ш, Щ: -ю becomes -у
To conjugate a Russian verb, remove the –ть from the infinitive, and that leaves you with the verb stem. Then add the endings above. Let’s see the full conjugation of a couple of first conjugation verbs.
| infinitive: | читать (to read) | работать (to work) |
| stem: | чита- | работа- |
| я | читаю | работаю |
| ты | читаешь | работаешь |
| он / она / оно | читает | работает |
| мы | читаем | работаем |
| вы | читаете | работаете |
| они | читают | работают |
Examples of Russian First Conjugation Verbs
Here are a few example verbs, both infinitives and full sentences.
- читать (to read)
- работать (to work)
- думать (to think)
- знать (to know)
- понимать (to understand)
- играть (to play)
- ждать (to wait)
- слушать (to listen)
- гулять (to walk / stroll)
- Я читаю газету утром.
I read the newspaper in the morning. - Мы работаем в центре города.
We work in the city center. - Она слушает музыку.
She listens to music. - Они гуляют в парке.
They walk in the park. - Она не понимает вопрос.
She doesn’t understand the question.
Russian First Conjugation Verbs: Stressed Endings
If the ending is stressed, there’s one minor spelling and pronunciation change to keep in mind. Instead of endings with –е, use –ё.
| Pronoun | Ending |
| я | -ю / -у |
| ты | -ёшь |
| он / она / оно | -ёт |
| мы | -ём |
| вы | -ёте |
| они | -ют / -ут |
In writing, you may see these endings spelled with –е instead of –ё. But in pronunciation, they are stressed and pronounced –yo.
Here are two full examples. Notice that the common verb жить (to live) is a bit irregular. It has the typical second conjugation ending –ить in the infinitive, but it has an irregular stem жив- and uses stressed first conjugation endings.
| infinitive: | ждать (to wait) | жить (to live) |
| я | жду | живу |
| ты | ждёшь | живёшь |
| он / она / оно | ждёт | живёт |
| мы | ждём | живём |
| вы | ждёте | живёте |
| они | ждут | живут |
One-syllable infinitives often take these endings, and they also often have slightly irregular stems, such as what you’ve just seen for жить (to live). These stem alterations – for example inserted vowels – arose to aid pronunciation. Examples include: ждать (to wait, stem: жд-), жить (to live, stem: жив-), пить (to drink, stem: пь-), петь (to sing, stem: по-), звать (to call, stem: зов-), врать (to lie, stem: вр-).
- Мы ждём автобус.
We are waiting for the bus. - Я пью воду.
I drink water. - Она поёт красиво.
She sings beautifully. - Они живут в Москве.
They live in Moscow. - Он зовёт меня.
He calls me. - Он врёт.
He is lying.
Russian First Conjugation Verbs: Stem Changing Verbs
Some Russian verbs undergo stem changes when they are conjugated. These changes usually involve consonant alterations, which developed historically to make pronunciation easier. For example:
- писать (to write) → пиш-
- сказать (to say) → скаж-
Stem changing verbs use the same endings, typically –у and –ут because the stems often end in Г, К, Х, Ж, Ч, Ш, Щ. For example:
| infinitive: | писать (to write) | мочь (to be able, can) |
| stem: | пиш- | мог- |
| я | пишу | могу |
| ты | пишешь | можешь |
| он / она / оно | пишет | может |
| мы | пишем | можем |
| вы | пишете | можете |
| они | пишут | могут |
Some stem changing verbs have two different stems. One is used for the я and они forms, and the other is used for all of the other forms.
| infinitive: | беречь (to protect) | помочь (to help) |
| stem: | берег- береж- | помог- помож- |
| я | берегу | помогу |
| ты | бережёшь | поможешь |
| он / она / оно | бережёт | поможет |
| мы | бережём | поможем |
| вы | бережёте | поможете |
| они | берегут | помогут |
Examples of Russian First Conjugation Verbs with Stem Changes
Here are a few example verbs, both infinitives and full sentences.
- писать / пиш- (to write)
- сказать / скаж- (to say)
- мочь / мог- / мож– (to be able, can)
- беречь / берег- / береж- (to protect)
- помочь / помог- / помож- (to help)
- плакать / плач- (to cry)
- искать / ищ- (to search, to look for)
- Я пишу письмо.
I write a letter. - Она пишет книгу.
She is writing a book. - Я могу помочь.
I can help. - Мы можем встретиться завтра.
We can meet tomorrow. - Я ищу ресторан.
I am looking for a restaurant. - Мы можем говорить по-русски.
We can speak Russian. - Она пишет письмо другу.
She writes a letter to a friend. - Я помогу тебе.
I will help you.
Practice Exercises
Let’s put what you’ve learned to practice.
A.
Give the full conjugation of:
- думать (to think)
- слушать (to listen)
- мочь / мог- / мож– (to be able, can)
B.
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses, then translate. In some cases, you’ll see a clue about stem or other changes you need to remember.
- Джон _____ в теннис. (играть)
- Я _____ письмо. (писать) [с > ш]
- Мы _____ ресторан. (искать) [к > щ]
- Она _____ музыку. (слушать)
- Они _____ в центре города. (работать)
- Ты _____ книгу? (читать)
- Я _____ помочь тебе. (мочь) [ч > г]
- Он _____ в парке. (гулять)
- Мы _____ автобус. (ждать) [ё instead of е in ending]
- Она _____ от счастья. (плакать) [к > ч]
- Я _____ русский язык. (изучать)
- Они _____ дом. (искать) [ск > щ]
- Ты _____ письмо другу? (писать) [с > ш]
- Мы _____ музыку вечером. (слушать)
- Он _____ помочь нам. (мочь) [ч > ж]
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Answer Key
A.
- я думаю, ты думаешь, он / она / оно думает, мы думаем, вы думаете, они думают
- я слушаю, ты слушаешь, он / она / оно слушает, мы слушаем, вы слушаете, они слушают
- я могу, ты можешь, он / она / оно может, мы можем, вы можете, они могут
B.
- Джон играет в теннис. John plays/is playing tennis.
- Я пишу письмо. I write/am writing a letter.
- Мы ищем ресторан. We are looking for a restaurant.
- Она слушает музыку. She listens to music.
- Они работают в центре города. They work in the city center.
- Ты читаешь книгу? Are you reading a book?
- Я могу помочь тебе. I can help you.
- Он гуляет в парке. He walks in the park.
- Мы ждём автобус. We are waiting for the bus.
- Она плачет от счастья. She cries from happiness.
- Я изучаю русский язык. I study/am studying Russian.
- Они ищут дом. They are looking for a house.
- Ты пишешь письмо другу? Are you writing a letter to a friend?
- Мы слушаем музыку вечером. We listen to music in the evening.
- Он может помочь нам. He can help us.
