Verbs · Lesson 5
Прошедшее, будущее, повелительное
Past, future, imperative
Past is gender in the singular (-л / -ла / -ло) and -ли in the plural. Future is either буду + infinitive (impf) or conjugated perfective. Imperatives are short commands from the present stem.
How it works
Past is gender in the singular (-л / -ла / -ло) and -ли in the plural. Future is either буду + infinitive (impf) or conjugated perfective. Imperatives are short commands from the present stem.
Then open Tables, Notes, Exceptions, and Examples in that order.
When to use it
- Past: drop -ть (usually) and add -л, -ла, -ло, -ли. Gender follows the subject: она читала, оно было.
- Imperfective future: я буду читать, ты будешь читать… — process or habit in the future.
- Perfective future: conjugate the perfective like a present: я прочитаю, ты напишешь.
- Imperative: читай / читайте, говори / говорите. Use imperfective for ongoing / repeated / «don’t», perfective for one complete action.
Pro tip
Past = who did it (gender/number). Future = which picture (process with буду vs result with a perfective). Commands = present stem, then -й/-и or -йте/-ите.