Basic Russian Grammar: Mastering Russian Second Conjugation Verbs in the Present Tense
In this post we’ll learn about Russian second 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 second conjugation. (For first conjugation verbs, check out this post.) First, we’ll start with the pattern of endings that Russian second conjugation verbs take in the present tense. Next, we’ll see examples of Russian second 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 Second Conjugation Verbs: Infinitives
Let’s start with an overview of the types of infinitives you’ll see that typically signify that a verb belongs to the second conjugation. Most verbs ending in -ить in their infinitive form fall into this category. But a few verbs that end in –еть or even –ать follow the second conjugation:
- видеть (to see)
- слышать (to hear)
- дышать (to breathe)
- держать (to hold)
- терпеть (to endure)
- гнать (to chase)
- смотреть (to watch)
- зависеть (to depend)
- обидеть (to offend)
- ненавидеть (to hate)
- вертеть (to spin)
Russian Second Conjugation Verbs: Endings
Now let’s turn to the conjugation itself. Here are the conjugation endings for the Russian present tense for each pronoun.
| Pronoun | Ending |
| я | -ю / -у |
| ты | -ишь |
| он / она / оно | -ит |
| мы | -им |
| вы | -ите |
| они | -ят / -ат |
The difference between -у / -ю for the я form and -ат / -ят 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
- After Г, К, Х, Ж, Ч, Ш, Щ: -я becomes -а
To conjugate a Russian verb in the second conjugation, remove –ить (sometimes –еть or –ать) from the infinitive, which leaves you with the verb stem. Then add the endings. Let’s see the full conjugation of a couple of second conjugation verbs.
| infinitive: | говорить (to speak) | учить (to learn) |
| stem: | говор- | уч- |
| я | говорю | учу |
| ты | говоришь | учишь |
| он / она / оно | говорит | учит |
| мы | говорим | учим |
| вы | говорите | учите |
| они | говорят | учат |
Examples of Russian Second Conjugation Verbs
Here are a few example verbs that belong to the second conjugation. Notice the different infinitive endings.
- говорить (to speak)
- смотреть (to watch)
- держать (to hold)
- слышать (to hear)
- курить (to smoke)
- учить (to learn, teach)
- терпеть (to endure)
- дышать (to breathe)
- строить (to build)
- клеить (to glue)
And here are a few example sentences with second conjugation verbs.
- Я говорю по-русски.
I speak Russian. - Они смотрят фильм.
They are watching a movie. - Мы учим новые слова.
We learn new words. - Они учат детей.
They teach children. - Я ничего не слышу.
I don’t hear anything. - Я строю дом.
I build a house. - Они строят мост.
They build a bridge.
Russian Second 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. In the case of second conjugation verbs, the shifts are often restricted to the я form. Here are some of the most important patterns you’ll encounter.
Pattern 1: л-insertion
1. -б / -п / -м > +л before -ю
Many common second conjugation verbs whose stems end in-б, -п, and -м (all sounds made with your lips) insert л before the я ending -ю. Some examples include: любить (to love): я люблю, купить (to buy): я куплю, терпеть (to endure): я терплю, кормить (to feed): я кормлю, and дремать (to doze, nap): я дремлю.
| infinitive: | любить (to love) | купить (to buy) |
| stem: | люб(л)- | куп(л)- |
| я | люблю | куплю |
| ты | любишь | купишь |
| он / она / оно | любит | купит |
| мы | любим | купим |
| вы | любите | купите |
| они | любят | купят |
- Я люблю русский язык.
I love Russian. - Мы любим этот ресторан.
We like this restaurant. - Я куплю хлеб.
I will buy bread. - Они купят машину.
They will buy a car.
Pattern 2: д > ж in я Form
A common stem shift that you’ll see in some second conjugation verbs involves a change from д to ж in the я form. Some common examples are видеть (to see), сидеть (to sit), обидеть (to offend), and ненавидеть (to hate),
| infinitive: | видеть (to see) | сидеть (to sit) |
| stem: | виж- / вид- | сиж- / сид- |
| я | вижу | сижу |
| ты | видишь | сидишь |
| он / она / оно | видит | сидит |
| мы | видим | сидим |
| вы | видите | сидите |
| они | видят | сидят |
- Я вижу дом.
I see a house. - Она видит дом.
She sees the house. - Я сижу дома.
I am sitting at home. - Они сидят в кафе.
They are sitting in a café. - Я ненавижу холодную погоду.
I hate cold weather.
Pattern 3: с > ш in я Form
A third pattern you’ll see is that с changes to ш in the я form. Examples include просить (to ask), носить (to wear, carry), висеть (to hang), зависеть (to depend) and косить (to mow).
| infinitive: | просить (to ask) | носить (to wear, carry) |
| stem: | прош- / прос- | нош- / нос- |
| я | прошу | ношу |
| ты | просишь | носишь |
| он / она / оно | просит | носит |
| мы | просим | носим |
| вы | просите | носите |
| они | просят | носят |
- Я прошу помощи.
I ask for help. - Я ношу очки. Ты носишь очки?
I wear glasses. Do you wear glasses? - Это зависит от погоды.
That depends on the weather. - Я завишу от родителей.
I depend on my parents. - Я кошу траву.
I’m mowing the grass.
Pattern 4: т > ч in я Form
The alternation from т to ч in the я form is also very common. Some examples are: платить (to pay), светить (to shine), воротить (to turn) and золотить (to gild).
| infinitive: | платить (to pay) | светить (to shine) |
| stem: | плач- / плат- | свеч- / свет |
| я | плачу | свечу |
| ты | платишь | светишь |
| он / она / оно | платит | светит |
| мы | платим | светим |
| вы | платите | светите |
| они | платят | светят |
- Я плачу за кофе.
I pay for the coffee. - Я свечу фонариком.
I shine a flashlight. - Солнце светит.
The sun shines. - Я ворочу нос от этого.
I turn up my nose at it.
Pattern 5: ст > щ in я Form
The alternation from ст to щ in the я form occurs in a few common verbs. Examples are: чистить (to clean), простить (to forgive), and гостить (to stay as a guest).
| infinitive: | чистить (to clean) | простить (to forgive) |
| stem: | чищ- / чист- | прощ- / прост- |
| я | чищу | прощу |
| ты | чистишь | простишь |
| он / она / оно | чистит | простит |
| мы | чистим | простим |
| вы | чистите | простите |
| они | чистят | простят |
- Я чищу зубы.
I brush my teeth. - Он чистит машину.
He cleans the car. - Я прощу тебя.
I will forgive you. - Простите меня, пожалуйста.
Forgive me, please.
Pattern 6: з > ж in я Form
Another possible second conjugation alternation is from з to ж in the я form. Some examples are: возить (to transport, bring someone somewhere), грузить (to load), and низить (to lower).
| infinitive: | возить (to transport) | грузить (to load) |
| stem: | вож- / воз- | груж- / груз- |
| я | вожу | гружу |
| ты | возишь | грузишь |
| он / она / оно | возит | грузит |
| мы | возим | грузим |
| вы | возите | грузите |
| они | возят | грузят |
- Я вожу детей в школу.
I drive the children to school. - Он возит туристов по городу.
He drives tourists around the city. - Я гружу коробки в машину.
I load boxes into the car. - Они грузят товар на корабль.
They load goods onto the ship.
Practice Exercises
A.
Give the full conjugation of:
- строить (to build)
- дремать (to doze, nap)
- воротить (to turn)
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 _____ русский язык. (учить)
- Я _____ этот фильм. (любить)
- Мы _____ новый ресторан. (видеть)
- Она _____ на стуле. (сидеть)
- Ты _____ кофе? (любить)
- Они _____ телевизор вечером. (смотреть)
- Я _____ очки каждый день. (носить)
- Мы _____ музыку сейчас. (слышать)
- Он _____ коробки в машину. (грузить)
- Ты _____ помощи? (просить)
Get on the road to speaking Russian with the Language Garage!
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about Russian second conjugation verbs. If you’d like to learn more:
- Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, BlueSky, Twitter, Threads, Mastodon, Instagram, or Pinterest. We publish lots of Russian vocabulary, grammar, and culture notes, so it’s a great way to pick up some new vocabulary and practice.
- Check out our other posts on Russian language, culture, and more.
- Enroll in affordable, flexible, and personalized private online Russian lessons or sign up for a small group online Russian class.
- Create a free Language Garage account to access tons of Russian vocabulary, grammar, and culture.
Answer Key
A.
- я строю, ты строишь, он / она / оно строит, мы строим, вы строите, они строят
- я дремлю, ты дремлешь, он / она / оно дремлет, мы дремлем, вы дремлете, они дремлют
- я ворочу, ты воротишь, он / она / оно воротит, мы воротим, вы воротите, они воротят
B.
- Джон учит русский язык. John studies Russian.
- Я люблю этот фильм. I love this film.
- Мы видим новый ресторан. We see a new restaurant.
- Она сидит на стуле. She is sitting on a chair.
- Ты любишь кофе? Do you like coffee?
- Они смотрят телевизор вечером. They watch television in the evening.
- Я ношу очки каждый день. I wear glasses every day.
- Мы слышим музыку сейчас. We hear music now.
- Он грузит коробки в машину. He loads boxes into the car.
- Ты просишь помощи? Are you asking for help?
Image Source Jeshoots-com on Pixabay
