an imposing owl flying low over the grass

Practice exercises for the Russian imperfective aspect

By: Anna Classing
Associated Articles

These activities are part of our Russian Grammar series. The skills we are practicing here are covered in our article:

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Activity 1: Describe the pictures

Describe the pictures using the imperfective verbs in the box. Pay attention to time markers for each picture to choose the right tense. Answers may vary a little, but should use the right tense and verb.

читать

to read

прыгать

to jump

играть

to play

спать

to sleep

танцевать

to dance

чистить

to brush

Example:

  • A photo taken from behind of a man jumping into a lake.

  • Смотри! Он прыгает в воду!

    Look! He is jumping into the water!

  • Вчера утром .

    Yesterday morning ___.

    A photo of a tiny white kitten sleeping on its back on a red and white pillow.

    Sample answer: Вчера утром котёнок спал.(Yesterday morning the kitten was sleeping.)

  • Завтра утром .

    Tomorrow morning ___.

    A photo of four boys jumping and playing with a ball in a green orchard.

    Sample answer: Завтра утром дети будут играть в мяч.(Tomorrow morning the kids will be playing with a ball.)

  • Она два раза в день.

    She ___ twice a day.

    A photo of a woman brushing her teeth, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

    Sample answer: Она чистит зубы два раза в день.(She brushes her teeth twice a day.)

  • Пока мы ждали посадки, .

    While we were waiting for the boarding, ___.

    A photo of a little boy lying on his stomach and reading a book.

    Sample answer: Пока мы ждали посадки, ребёнок читал книжку.(While we were waiting for the boarding, the child was reading a book.)

  • В это воскресенье с 4 до 6 .

    This Sunday from 4 to 6, ___.

    A photo of a crowded dance floor taken from above.

    Sample answer: В это воскресенье с 4 до 6 мы будем танцевать в парке.(This Sunday from 4 to 6 we will be dancing in the park.)

Activity 2: Complete the dialogue

Complete the phone conversation between two co-workers by using the imperfective verbs from the box. Some of them are used more than once. (Notice that a translation is given below to help you out!)

знать(to know)

говорить(to say)

ждать(to wait)

петь(to sing)

отправлять(to send)

заканчивать(to finish, graduate)

отвечать(to answer)

делать(to do)

кричать(to shout)

работать(to work)

убивать(to kill)

получать(to get, receive)

любить(to love)

слушать(to listen)

открываться(to open)

звонить(to call)

гулять(to walk)

  • Аллё, привет! Что ?

    Hello, hi! What are you doing?

  • Привет! вот по центру, время. Клиент отменил встречу в последний момент, а мы тут по вторникам с друзьями в караоке. Клуб в 6. Вот, .

    Hi! (I am) walking around downtown, killing time. A client canceled the meeting at short notice, but we sing in a karaoke bar here with friends on Tuesdays. The bar opens at 6. So here I am, waiting.

  • Ух ты! Я и не , что ты !

    Wow! I didn’t know that you sing!

  • Да, я же даже музыкальную школу . И я вообще петь .

    Oh yes, I even graduated from a music school. And I actually just love singing.

  • Здорово! Не только там, а то голос сорвёшь, а нам завтра придётся вместо тебя весь день на телефонные звонки .

    Cool! Just do not shout there, or you will strain your voice, and we’ll have to answer phone calls instead of you all day tomorrow.

  • Постараюсь!

    I’ll do my best!

  • , я почему . Ты в головной офис наши отчёты? Они , что не от нас ничего в этом месяце.

    Listen, I’m actually calling for a reason. Have you sent our reports to the head office? They are saying they haven’t received anything from us this month.

  • Да, вот только вчера очередной отчёт им отправила. Я завтра в офисе, посмотрю. Может программа дала сбой.

    Yes, I sent another report to them just yesterday. I will be working in the office tomorrow, so I’ll take a look. Maybe the program had a glitch.

  • Спасибо. Ну, до завтра! Хорошего вечера!

    Thanks. See you tomorrow then! Have a good evening!

  • Спасибо, и тебе!

    Thanks, you too!

English Translation

  • Hello, hi! What are you __?

  • Hi! (I am) __ around downtown, __ time. A client canceled the meeting at short notice, but we __ in a karaoke bar here with friends on Tuesdays. The bar __ at 6. So here I am, __.

  • Wow! I didn’t __ that you __!

  • Oh yes, I even __ from a music school. And I actually just __ singing.

  • Cool! Just do not __ (in) there, or you will strain your voice, and we’ll have to __ phone calls instead of you all day tomorrow.

  • I’ll do my best!

  • __, (I’m) actually __ for a reason. Have you __our reports to the head office? They __ they (have)n’t __ anything from us this month.

  • Yes, I sent another report to them just yesterday. I __ in the office tomorrow, so I’ll take a look. Maybe the program had a glitch.

  • Thanks. See you tomorrow then! Have a good evening!

  • Thanks, you too!

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