What are verbal adverbs in Russian?

By: Olga Maroz Tue Sep 23 2025

Adverbs, Verbs

In Russian, verbal adverbs (деепричастие[dyeyepriCHAstiye]) are that are used as — to add information about another action or process. Verbal adverbs have some characteristics of verbs and some characteristics of adverbs. For example:

Прочитав письмо, он сразу начал писать ответ.
prachiTAF pisMO, on SRAzoo NAchal piSAT atVYET
Having read the letter, he immediately began writing a response.
Читая быстро, она ничего не понимает.
chiTAya BYStra, aNA nichiVO ni paniMAit
Reading quickly, she doesn't understand anything.

Verb Characteristics	Adverb Characteristics
describe an action can take an object (like письмо) can be described by adverbs (like быстро)	provide information about another situation List item they do not have a tense (past, present, future)

Verbal adverbs, like прочитав and читая, are almost exclusively used in written Russian and very rarely in colloquial everyday speech. They are sometimes called “adverbial participles” because many of them can be translated into English participles like “reading” and “having read.”

Do you want to learn more about verbal adverbs, how they are formed and observe them in sentences? Continue reading!

What are the types of Russian verbal adverbs?

In Russian, we use verbal adverbs to describe an action or situation, just like you might use an adverb.

Встав рано утром, она успела сделать больше за день.

fstaf RAna OOTram, aNA oosPYEla ZDYElat BOLshe za dyen

By having gotten up early in the morning, she managed to get more done in a day.

→ The verbal adverb explains how she did it.

Verbal adverbs are a type of adverb, but they come from verbs, so they can be associated with other words and phrases that are typically associated with verbs, like , , or . You should use the same for a noun associated with a verbal adverb that you would use if you were using the verb in another context.

verbal adverbinstrumental case
Занимаясь спортом, вы будете чувствовать себя лучше.
zaniMAyas SPORtam, vy BOOditi CHOOStvavat siBYA LOOCHshe
By doing sports you will feel better.
→ This is a verbal adverb used with a noun in the instrumental case, which is the same case we would use when using the verb заниматься спортом[zaniMAtsya SPORtam](to do sports).
verbal adverbaccusative case
Подписав договор, президенты пожали друг другу руки.
padpiSAF dagaVOR, priziDYENty paZHAli drook DROOgoo ROOki
Having signed the agreement, the presidents shook hands.
→ This is a verbal adverb used with a direct object noun in the accusative case. It’s the same case we would use for the object of the verb подписать договор[padpiSAT dagaVOR](to sign an agreement).

In Russian, verbal adverb phrases (verbal adverbs and their associated words) are positioned in the sentence like an adverb, at the beginning, at the end, or after the subject. For instance:

Получив деньги за работу, он успел раздать долги.
palooCHEEF DYENgi za raBOtoo, on oosPYEL razDAT dalGEE
Having received money for his work, he managed to pay off his debts.
Он успел раздать долги, получив деньги за работу.
on oosPYEL razDAT dalGEE, palooCHEEF DYENgi za raBOtoo
He managed to pay off his debts, having received money for his work.
Он успел, получив деньги за работу, раздать долги.
on oosPYEL, palooCHEEF DYENgi za raBOtoo, razDAT dalGEE
He managed, having received money for his work, to pay off his debts.

Notice that, in writing, the verbal adverb phrase is always separated out by commas.

There are two types of verbal adverbs in Russian: imperfective and perfective. Imperfective verbal adverbs are formed from imperfective verbs and perfective verbal adverbs are formed from perfective verbs.

Imperfective:
Вставая рано утром, вы будете успевать сделать больше за день.
fstaVAya RAna OOTram, vy BOOditye oospiVAT ZDYElat BOLshe za dyen
By getting up early in the morning, you will have time to get more done in a day.
Perfective:
Встав рано утром, она успела сделать больше за день.
fstaf RAna OOTram, aNA oosPYEla ZDYElat BOLshe za dyen
Having gotten up early in the morning, she managed to get more done in a day.

Each type is formed and used a little differently. Let’s have a look at the differences!

How to use imperfective verbal adverbs in Russian?

In Russian, we use imperfective verbal adverbs to describe an action or situation that goes simultaneously with the main action of the sentence – they answer the question when/while doing what? The verbal adverb itself does not change with the tense (past/present/future) of the rest of the sentence, the time it refers to will be the same as the tense of the main verb. For example:

Past	Слушая музыку Моцарта, он забыл обо всём. SLOOshaya MOOzykoo MOtsarta, on zaBYL aba fsyom Listening to Mozart's music, he forgot about everything.
Past	Слушая музыку Моцарта, он забывает обо всём. SLOOshaya MOOzykoo MOtsarta, on zabyVAit aba fsyom Listening to Mozart's music, he forgets about everything.
Future	Слушая музыку Моцарта, он забудет обо всём. SLOOshaya MOOzykoo MOtsarta, on zaBOOdit aba fsyom Listening to Mozart's music, he will forget about everything.

In general, the action of the verbal adverb indicates the time of the main action, the reason for the main action, the conditions that resulted in the main action, or the manner in which the main action was completed. They can be replaced by beginning with words like: когда[kagDA](when) or пока[paKA](while), так как[tak kak](because) or потому что[pataMOOshta](because), or если[YSli](if).

Sentence with Imperfective Verbal Adverbs	Sentence with a Subordinate Clause
Она готовила завтрак, разговаривая по телефону. aNA gaTOvila ZAFtrak, razgaVArivaya pa tiliFOnoo She was preparing breakfast, (while) talking on the phone.	Она готовила завтрак, когда разговаривала по телефону. aNA gaTOvila ZAFtrak, kagDA razgaVArivala pa tiliFOnoo She was preparing breakfast when she was talking on the phone.
Не зная законы страны, я не мог ничего сделать. ni ZNAya zaKOny straNY, ya ni mok nichiVO ZDYElat Not knowing the laws of the country, I could not do anything.	Так как я не знал законы страны, я не мог ничего сделать. tak kak ya ni znal zaKOny straNY, ya ni mok nichiVO SDYElat Since I didn't know the laws of the country, I couldn't do anything.
Читая больше на русском, вы будете лучше говорить и понимать. chiTAya BOLshe na ROOSkam vy BOOditye LOOCHshe gavaREET i paniMAT (By) reading more in Russian, you will speak and understand better.	Если вы будете читать больше на русском, вы будете лучше говорить и понимать. YESli vy BOOditye chiTAT BOLshe na ROOSkam vy BOOditye LOOCHshye gavaREET i paniMAT If you read more in Russian, you will speak and understand better.

How to form imperfective verbal adverbs in Russian?

Imperfective verbal adverbs are formed by adding -а[a] or -я[ya] to the present tense base of an imperfective verb. This present tense base can be formed by removing the last two letters from the present tense, third person plural (“they”) form in the present tense.

Imperfective verb

(infinitive)

→

Third person plural

(present tense)

→

Remove

the last two letters

→

Add

-а[a] after ж[zh], ш[sh], ч[ch], щ[shch]

-я[ya] after other letters

Now let’s see how it works:

Imperfective infinitive	3rd person plural present tense	Remove	Base	Verbal adverb ending	Imperfective verbal adverb
говорить gavaREET to speak	говорят gavaRYAT	-ят	говор- gavaRY-	я[ya]	говоря gavaRYA speaking
слышать SLYshat to hear	слышат SLYshat	-ат	слыш- SLYsh-	а[a]	слыша SLYsha hearing
думать DOOmat to think	думают DOOmayut	-ют	дума- DOOma-	я[ya]	думая DOOmaya thinking
учиться* ooCHEEtsa to study	учатся OOchatsa	-ат and ся (reflexiveness)	уч- OOch-	а[a] and сь[s] (reflexiveness)	учась ooCHAS studying
Идти iTEE to go	идут iDOOT	-ут	ид- iD-	я[ya]	идя iDYA going

Exception!

The verbs бежать[biZHAT](to run), хотеть[khaTYET](to want), есть[yest](to eat), мочь[moch](can), and спать[spat](to sleep) do not have imperfective adverbial form.
To make the verb быть[byt](to be) an adverbial, use the suffix -учи[oochi] → будучи[BOOdoochi](being).
Надо читать много книг, будучи студентом.
NAda chiTAT MNOga kneek, BOOdoochi stooDYENtam
You need to read a lot of books as (lit. being) a student.
The suffix -учи[oochi] is used in a few other verbal adverbs, like играючи[igRAyuchi](playing) or припеваючи[pripiVAyuchi](singing), but these are very old forms, today mostly used in set expressions, like:
- жить припеваючи
  zhyt pripiVAyuchi
  live happily ever after (lit. to live singing)
- долго ли умеючи
  DOLga li ooMYEyuchi
  done fast, well and with ease

You can turn a passive verb into a verbal adverb by using the verbal adverb form of быть[byt](to be). For example:

Он провёл в тюрьме много лет будучи изолированным от мира.

On praVYEL v tyurMYE MNOga lyet BOOdoochi izaLEEravanym at MEEra

He spent many years in prison being isolated from the world.

Tip

Though the word хотя[khaTYA](although), looks like a verbal adverb from хотеть[khaTYET](to want), and historically was a verbal adverb, today is actually a conjunction meaning “although,” and so cannot be used as a verbal adverb.

How to use perfective verbal adverbs in Russian?

In Russian, we use perfective verbal adverbs to describe a finished action that preceded the main action or situation of the sentence. Perfective adverbs answer the question “having done what?” or “after doing what?” For example:

Открыв окно, женщина вдохнула свежий аромат осени.

atKRYF akNO ZHENshchina vdaKHNOOla SVYEzhiy araMAT Osini

Having opened the window, the woman inhaled the fresh autumn air.

Often you can use a perfective verbal adverbs like you would use a subordinate clause that starts with words like когда[kagDA](when), потому что[pataMOOshta](because), or если[YSli](if).

Sentence with Perfective Verbal Adverbs	Sentence with Conjunction
Войдя в комнату, он начал уборку. vayDYA f KOMnatoo, on NAchal ooBORkoo Having entered the room, he began cleaning.	Когда он вошёл в комнату, он начал уборку. kagDA on vaSHOL f KOMnatoo, on NAchal ooBORkoo When he entered the room, he began cleaning.
Узнав о трагедии, мы позвонили родителям. oozNAF a traGYEdii, my pazvaNEEli raDEEtilyam Having learned about the tragedy, we called our parents.	Мы позвонили родителям, потому что узнали о трагедии. my pazvaNEEli raDEEtilyam, pataMOO shta oozNAli a traGYEdii We called our parents because we learned about the tragedy.
Только закончив доклад, я смогу обсудить его с тобой. TOLka zaKONchif dakLAT, ya smaGOO absooDEET iVO s taBOY Only (after) having finished the report will I be able to discuss it with you.	Только если я закончу доклад, я смогу обсудить его с тобой. TOLka YESli ya zaKONchoo dakLAT, ya smaGOO absooDEET iVO s taBOY Only if I finish the report will I be able to discuss it with you.

How to form perfective verbal adverbs in Russian?

Perfective verbal adverbs can be formed only from perfective verbs. To form perfective verbal adverbs, add the suffixes -в[v], -вши[vshi], -ши[shi], or -а[a]/-я[ya] to the stem of the past tense of the verb.

Perfective verb

(infinitive)

→

Masculine singular

(past tense)

→

Remove

the last letter

-л[l]

→

Add

-в[v]-вши[fshy]-ши[shy]-я[ya]

Now let’s see how it works:

If the masculine singular past tense form ends in -л[l] (or -лся[lsya], for ), replace -л with -в[v] or -вши[fshy]. With non-reflexive verbs it is usually best to use -в[v], and with reflexive verbs it’s best to use -вши[fshy], which will look like -вшись[fshys] after you add the reflexive ending back on, but there is some flexibility.

Perfective infinitive	Masculine singular	Remove	Verbal adverb ending	Perfective verbal adverb
поговорить pagavaREET to speak	поговорил pagavaREEL	-л[l]	в[v]	поговорив pagavaREEF having spoken
услышать oosLYshat to hear	услышал oosLYshal		в[v]	услышав oosLYshaf having heard
отучиться atooCHEEtsa to graduate	отучился atooCHEELsya		вши[a] and сь[s] (reflexiveness)	отучившись atooCHEEfshys having graduated

If the past tense ends in some other consonant, you will usually add the -ши[shy] to the past tense.

Perfective infinitive	Masculine singular	Remove	Verbal adverb ending	Perfective verbal adverb
испечь isPYECH to bake	испёк isPYOK	-	ши[shy]	испёкши isPYOKshi having baked

But there are two special cases where you do something a bit different:

If a perfective verb in infinitive has suffix -ну[noo] but lost it in the past tense masculine singular form, it will be back in verbal adverb perfective form.

Perfective infinitive	Masculine singular	Remove	Verbal adverb ending	Perfective verbal adverb
привыкнуть priVYKnoot to get used to	привык priVYK	-	Suffix ну[noo] is back +в[v]	привыкнув priVYKnoof having got used to

Some perfective verbs with a stem ending in з[z], с[s], or д[d], т[t], or prefixed verbs of motion ending in -йти[yti], form perfective verbal adverbs with -я[ya], same as imperfective verbs.

Perfective infinitive	Masculine singular	Remove	Replace with -в[v] or -вши[vshee] or -я[ya]	Perfective verbal adverb
привезти privisTEE to bring	привёз priVYOS	-	я[ya]	привезя priviZYA having brought

Important

Some verbs have 2 verbal adverb forms:

Принести[prinisTEE](to bring) → принёсши[priNYOshy] / принеся[priniSYA]
Запереть[zapiRYET](to lock) → заперши[ZApyershy] / заперев[zapiRYEF]

Summary

Let's review what we've learned about verbal adverbs.

There are imperfective (formed from imperfective verbs) and perfective (formed from perfective verbs) verbal adverbs in Russian.
They are mostly used in written Russian.
Imperfective verbal adverbs are formed with suffixes -а[a] or -я[ya].
Perfective verbal adverbs are formed with -в[v], -вши[vshee], -ши[shi], or -я[ya].
Imperfective and perfective verbal adverb can be replaced by the clauses using conjunctions когда[kagDA](when), потому что[pataMOOshta](because), etc.
In writing, the verbal adverbs are separated by commas.

Now let’s do some Russian verbal adverb exercises!

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