Tutorial
In Course: Russian A2

Choosing Aspects After Verbs and Modals

Master Russian aspect rules for infinitive complements after phasal verbs and modal words like можно, нельзя, and надо.

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en-GB → ru-RU

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Deck Contents

34 Cards
Lesson#1
When you use two verbs together in Russian, the aspect of the second verb is often strictly governed by the first. In this deck, you will learn why verbs of beginning, continuing, and stopping always require an imperfective infinitive. You will also discover how modals like 'можно' and 'нельзя' switch meaning depending on the aspect you choose.
Lesson#2
Verbs of beginning, such as 'начать', 'начинать', and 'стать', always take an imperfective infinitive. Because starting something launches an ongoing action rather than a finished result, a perfective infinitive is never used here. For example, 'Студент начал читать' means 'The student began reading'.
Quiz#3
Translate into Russian: 'The student began reading a new text.'

Студент начал читать новый текст

Quiz#4
Translate into Russian: 'We begin working at nine.'

Мы начинаем работать в девять

Quiz#5
Translate into Russian: 'She began calling me often.'

Она стала часто звонить мне

Lesson#6
Verbs of continuing, such as 'продолжать' and 'продолжить', also strictly take an imperfective infinitive. Since continuing an activity focuses on an ongoing process, Russian requires the imperfective form. For example, 'Мы продолжаем работать' means 'We continue working'.

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