In Russian, just like in English, there are several different ways to talk about the future. You can use:
the future tense (also called the “perfective future”)
the imperfective future → быть[byt](to be) + an imperfectiveNo definition set for imperfectiveLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. infinitiveNo definition set for infinitiveLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
using various “planning” verbs + infinitive
In this post, we’ll introduce you to these different ways to express the future: how to form them and when to use them. Are you ready to have a look? Let’s see!
What is the perfective future in Russian?
In Russian, the perfective future is also known as the “future tense.” This tense gets its name because it is formed only from perfective verb stems.
In Russian, most actions can be described using a pair of related verbs: a “perfective” verb and an “imperfective” verb. Though these verbs do often look and sound similar, they are used in slightly different contexts. For example:
делать[DYElat](to make, do) ← imperfective
сделать[ZDYElat](to make, do) ← perfective
зарабатывать[zaraBAtyvat](to earn) ← imperfective
заработать[zaraBOtat](to earn) ← perfective
While dictionaries usually have the imperfective verbs as the main entry, most dictionaries also provide the perfective form. Check out our post on aspect pairs in Russian to learn more!
How to form the perfective future in Russian?
To form the perfective future in Russian, you will follow almost the same pattern that is used to form the Russian present tense. The only difference is that where the present tense is only formed using imperfective verbs, the perfective future is only formed using perfective verbs.
Imperfective (non-past) = Present Tense
Perfective (non-past) = Perfective Future Tense
Compare:
When to use the perfective future in Russian?
In Russian, the perfective future is used to indicate the intention to complete an action in the future. It’s a lot like the future with “will” in English.
These examples show how perfective future verbs are used for actions that will be completed in the future.
perfective future
Я перезвоню тебе через час.
ya pirizvaNYU tiBYE CHEryes chas
I will call you in an hour.
Я начну работу в январе.
ya nachNOO raBOtoo v yanvaRYE
I will start my job in January.
Perfective future verbs can also be used to simply indicate that something will happen in the future regardless of the speaker’s intention to complete an action.
Не знаю. Поживём, увидим.
ni ZNAyu. pazhiVYOM ooVEEdim.
I don’t know. We’ll wait and see.
lit. We’ll live and see.
However, unlike the future with “will” in English, the Russian perfective future is usually not used for actions that last a long time or repeat. So you usually won’t use this tense to translate sentences with the structure “I’ll be verb-ing.”
Often Russians use the perfective verb пойти[payTEE](to go) in the future followed by another perfective verb in the future similar to the English way of saying “I’ll go work on my stuff.” Notice that both verbs in Russian are in the future tense.
Я пойду поиграю пока.
ya payDOO paiGRAyu paKA
I’ll go play for now.
lit. I will go will play for now.
When to use the present tense to discuss the future in Russian?
Most Russian verbs in the present tense can be used to talk about things that are going to happen in the future. You usually will do this when you are making plans or drawing up schedules.
Most often, we use the present tense to talk about the future if we are using unidirectionalNo definition set for unidirectionalLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. verbs of motion such as ехать[YEkhat](go by vehicle) or идти[iTEE](go on foot) or else with prefixed verbs of motion such as улетать[ooliTAT](fly out) or уезжать[ooiZHAT](to leave).
present
Speaker A:Ты завтра в 8 улетаешь?
ty ZAftra v VOsyem ooliTAyesh
Are you flying out at 8 tomorrow?
Speaker B:Да, можешь подвезти меня в аэропорт?
da MOzhesh padvisTEE miNYA v aeraPORT
Yeah, can you take me to the airport?
Speaker A:Ага, я как раз еду в сторону аэропорта.
aGA ya kak ras YEdoo f STOranoo aeraPORta
Yep, I'm conveniently going in the direction of the airport.
What is the imperfective future in Russian?
In Russian, the imperfective future is formed by combining (perfective) future tense of the verb быть[byt](to be) with an imperfective infinitiveNo definition set for infinitiveLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum..
If you want to remember this, remember that the verb быть[byt](to be) has the same root as the word for “future” in Russian is будущее[BOOdooshchiye]!
When to use the imperfective future?
The imperfective future in Russian is used to indicate that an action could go on for some time, even if that length of time is only implied. You can see this in the examples in the table above, or in the examples below:
future tenseimperfective infinitive
Буду ждать твоего очередного визита.
BOOdoo zhdat tvaiVO ochiridNOva viZEEta
I’ll be awaiting your next visit.
Будем искать новую школу.
BOOdyem isKAT NOvooyu SHKOloo
We’ll be looking for a new school.
In addition, this type of future could indicate that an action will repeat a certain number of times. In this context, it is often used with adverbs of time (frequency) such as всегда[fsigDA](always), часто[CHAsta](often), редко[RYEtka](rarely), никогда[nikagDA](never), etc.
future tenseimperfective infinitive
Я теперь почаще буду забегать.
ya tiPYER paCHAshchye BOOdoo zabiGAT
I will drop by more often now.
Давай больше никогда не будем ссориться.
daVAY BOlshe nikagDA ni BOOdyem SOritsa
How to express the future using “planning” verbs?
The future can also be expressed by using the present tense of a “planning” verb like verbs that refer to future plans such as собираться[sabiRAtsa](to get ready) and планировать[plaNEEravat](to plan) + an infinitiveNo definition set for infinitiveLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. (either perfective or imperfective).
present tenseimperfective infinitive
Мои родственники планируют строить дом.
maEE ROtstviniki plaNEErooyut STROit dom
My relatives are planning on building a house.
present tenseperfective infinitive
Мои родственники планируют построить дом.
maEE ROtstviniki plaNEErooyut paSTROit dom
My relatives are planning on building a house.
As the translations above suggest, these two sentences above are very similar in meaning. The only difference is that using the imperfective infinitive implies that it will take time to build a house, while using the perfective aspect focuses on the intention to complete the building of a house.
Conclusion
In this post, we have tried to uncover some of the mysteries of the future in Russian. In particular, we investigated how the future can be expressed in Russian. To sum up, there are four ways to express the future in Russian, such as...
using perfective verbs in the future tense
using the imperfective future with быть + imperfective infinitive
using present tense “planning” verbs + infinitive
Now let’s see how well you can talk about the future! Download the activities below to test your skills!
To embark on your next language adventure, join Mango on social!
