Everything you need to know about conjugating Russian verbs in the present tense as a beginner

Everything you need to know about conjugating Russian verbs in the present tense as a beginner

In Russian the endings of verbs change for each grammatical person in a process known as conjugation (спряжение). The grammatical persons referred to, are: I, you, (singular and informal), he, she, we, you (plural and formal singular) and they

The renown Russian linguist Zaliznyak distinguishes a whopping 16 main verb classes in Russian. Yes, that’s right. There are precisely sixteen key variations to the conjugation system, which tends to scare off beginners. Therefore, a simplified version is typically taught, introducing learners to the two main conjugation endings. However, knowledge of the 16-class system is required for greater accuracy in speaking Russian, as the stems of Russian verbs may undergo many spelling changes, or differ in the present and past tenses.

All verbs possess one of two infinitive endings, which are removed before the verb is conjugated: -ть, or more rarely, -ти (although -ся/сь/ся- may be added after for reflexive verbs)

Conjugation describes the way in which the form of a verb changes in order to reflect the grammaticalgender,number, tense, or verbal aspect of the subject(s) of a sentence. In Russian, there are two types of conjugation patterns which verbs follow, depending on the ending of the verb in the infinitive form. The first set of these verbs are called verbs of the first conjugation and the second set of these verbs are called verbs of the second conjugation

First conjugation verbs are typically those which possess any endingbut -ить. Such verbs are conjugated by removing -ть and replacing it with the appropriate endings for the grammatical person as follows:

Russian pronoun	English pronoun	Ending	Russian present tense example	English present tense example	Russian present tense example	English present tense example
я	I	ю or у	чита́ю	read	живу́	live
ты	you (informal)	ешь or ёшь	чита́ешь	read	живёшь	live
он/она /оно	he/she/it	ет or ёт	чита́ет	reads	живёт	lives
мы	we	ем or ём	чита́ем	read	живём	live
вы	you (plural, formal)	ете or ёте	чита́ете	read (plural, formal)	живёте	live (plural, formal)
они	they	ют or ут	чита́ют	read	живу́т	live

Note that the second person singular ending –ешь-, the third person singular ending –ет, the first person plural ending -ем and the second person plural ending –ете, are unstressed. However, in the variant with the letter ё, this letter isalways stressed (that is, it is always indicative of the stressed syllable).

Second conjugation verbs typically end in -ить. These verbs are conjugated by removing -ть and replacing it with the appropriate endings for the grammatical person as follows:

Russian pronoun	English pronoun	Ending	Russian present tense example	English present tense example	Russian present tense example	English present tense example
я	I	ю or у	смотрю́	watch	ворошу́	stir
ты	you (informal)	ишь	смо́тришь	watch	вороши́шь	stir
он/она /оно	he/she/it	ит	смо́трит	watches	вороши́т	stirs
мы	we	им	смо́трим	watch	вороши́м	stir
вы	you (plural, formal)	ите	смотри́те	watch	вороши́те	stir
они	they	ят or ат	смо́трят	watch	вороша́т	stir

The standard first person singular and third person plural endings-ю and -ят respectively, change to -у and -ат if the preceding letter happens to consist of one of the following: -ш/щ/ж/ч/ц-.

Class 1 Russian verbs

Class 1 infinitive verbs end in -ать, -ять, and more rarely, -еть. The vast majority of Russian verbs fall into this category. Simply remove the ending -ть and add the suffix required for the present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to do / make	де́лать	де́лаю
to read	чита́ть	чита́ю
to influence, affect	влиять	влия́ю
to own, possess, wield	владеть	владе́ю

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here

Class 2 Russian verbs

Class 2 infinitive verbs end in -овать and -евать . For verbs ending in -овать, remove the ending and add -у-. For verbs ending in -евать, remove the ending and add -у- only when the ending is preceded by the following palatal consonants (к, г, х),sibilants (ш, ж, щ, ч), or theaffricateц. In all other instances, replace the ending with -ю-. Finally, add the suffix required for the present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to base, ground (on, upon)	бази́ровать	бази́рую
to draw	рисова́ть	рису́ю
to chew	жева́ть	жую́
to fight, be at war	воева́ть	вою́ю

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 3 Russian verbs

Class 3 infinitive verbs end in -нуть. Remove -уть before adding the suffixes required for the present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs.

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to pull	тяну́ть	тяну́
to sink	тону́ть	тону́

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 4 Russian verbs

Class 4 verbs largely end in -ить. Remove -ить and alter the preceding consonant(s) for the first person singular only , in accordance with the Table illustrating class 4, 5 and 6 infinitive verb consonant changes below. Then add the suffixes required for the present tense conjugations of second conjugation verbs. Bear in mind that the standard first person singular and third person plural endings -ю and -ят respectively, change to -у and -ат if the preceding letter happens to consist of one of the following: -ш/щ/ж/ч/ц-.

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to thank	благодари́ть	благодарю́
to believe	ве́рить	ве́рю
to stir	вороши́ть	ворошу́

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 5 Russian verbs

Class 5 verbs consist of some verbs (not all!) ending in -ать, -ять and -еть. Remove the ending and for the first person singular only , alter the consonant(s) preceding the ending as necessary, in accordance with the Table illustrating class 4, 5 and 6 infinitive verb consonant changes below. Then add the suffixes required for the present tense conjugation of second conjugation verbs. The standard first person singular and third person plural endings -ю and -ят respectively, change to -у and -ат if the preceding letter happens to consist of one of the following: -ш/щ/ж/ч/ц-.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to drive out, to oust	выгоня́ть	выгоня́ю
to be, stand, get on	обстоя́ть	обстою́
to burn	горе́ть	горю́
To look (at something)	смотре́ть	смотрю́
To grumble	ворча́ть	ворчу́
To hold	держа́ть	держу́

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 6 Russian verbs

Class 6 infinitive verbs consist of some verbs ending in -ать and -ять. Remove the ending and for the first person singular only , alter the consonant(s) preceding the ending as necessary, in accordance with the Table illustrating class 4, 5 and 6 infinitive verb consonant changes below. Finally, add the suffixes required for the present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs. The standard first person singular , third person singular and third person plural endings -ю , -ет/-ёт and -ют respectively, change to -у, -ет/-ёт and -ут if the preceding letter happens to consist of one of the following: -ш/щ/ж/ч/ц-.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to wait	жда́ть	жду́
to sow	се́ять	се́ю
to call (somebody)	зва́ть	зову́
to knit, tie, bind	вяза́ть	вяжу́

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 7 Russian verbs

Class 7 infinitive verbs consist of some verbs ending in -зти/-зть and -сти/-сть. Remove only the ending –ти or -ть and add the suffixes required for the present tense conjugation of first conjugation verbs. However, note that the standard first person singular and third person plural endings are –у and -ут respectively.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to carry (by vehicle), deliver, transport	везти́	везу́
to climb (up, onto), put inside	ле́зть	ле́зу
to lead, preside over, chair	вести́	веду́
to steal	кра́сть	краду́

Class 8 Russian verbs

Class 8 infinitive verbs consist of verbs ending in -чь. Remove the ending and replace ч with г or к for the first person singular and third person plural endings, before adding the suffixes required for the present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs. However, note that the standard first person singular and third person plural endings are –у and -ут respectively.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to guard, take care of, keep safe	беречь	берегу́
to attract, entail	влечь	влеку́
to bake	печь	пеку́
can, be able to	мо́чь	могу́

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 9 Russian verbs

Class 9 infinitive verbs consist of verbs ending in -ереть. Remove the ending and add -р- before adding the suffixes required for the present tense conjugation of first conjugation verbs. However, note that the standard first person singular and third person plural endings are –у and -ут respectively.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
(colloquial) to carry (a burden)	пере́ть	пру́
to die, to perish (in large numbers)	мере́ть	мру́
to rub, irritate (by an abrasive action)	тере́ть	тру́

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 10 Russian verbs

Class 10 infinitive verbs consist of verbs ending in -олоть and -ороть. Remove only a portion of the ending, – оть and add the suffixes required for the present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs. Note that the alternative first person singular and third person plural endings in first conjugation verbs, –у and -ут, are not used.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to kill by stabbing, slaughter (an animal)	заколо́ть	заколю́
to pull out (weeds), weed out	поло́ть	полю́
to rip (a garment), tear (at the seams), unstitch	поро́ть	порю́
to crack (nuts), chop (firewood), prick, sting	коло́ть	колю́
to grind (into smaller pieces or a powder), talk nonsense, bang on about (something)	моло́ть*	мелю́

*The verb моло́ть is an exception which requires the replacement of -о with -е.

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 11 Russian verbs

Class 11 infinitive verbs consist of verbs ending in -ить. Simply add –ь to the standard present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs. Note that the alternative first person singular and third person plural endings in first conjugation verbs, –у and -ут, are not used.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to beat	би́ть	бью́
to wind, twist, weave	ви́ть	вью́
to pour	ли́ть	лью́
to sew	ши́ть	шью́
to drink	пи́ть	пью́

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 12 Russian verbs

Class 12 infinitive verbs consist of verbs ending in -ыть, -уть, -ить and some ending in -еть. Remove the ending completely for verbs ending in -ыть, replacing it with –о. Removeonly –ть for the endings -уть, -ить and –еть. After removing -ить from verbs with a root ending in-р, add – е. Finally, add the suffixes required for the present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs, for all of the endings above. The alternative first person singular and third person plural endings in first conjugation verbs, –у and -ут, are not used.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to howl, wail	вы́ть	во́ю
to dig, burrow	ры́ть	ро́ю
to finish digging	доры́ть	доро́ю
to wash	мы́ть	мо́ю
to roof, paint	кры́ть	кро́ю
to whimper, to whine	ны́ть	но́ю
to blow (the impact of wind), be drafty	ду́ть	ду́ю
to shave	бри́ть	бре́ю
to rot, go bad, decompose, decay	гни́ть	гнию́
to drink	пи́ть*	пью́
to ripen	спе́ть	спе́ю
to sing	пе́ть	пою́
to heat	гре́ть	гре́ю

*The verb пи́ть requires the addition of the soft sign ь after the ending -ить is removed. In addition, the combination of –о and –е is replaced with -ё, before the present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs are added.

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 13 Russian verbs

Class 13 infinitive verbs consist of verbs ending in -авать. Remove the ending and add -р before adding the suffixes required for the present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs. However, note that the standard first person singular and third person plural endings are –у and -у т respectively.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to give	дава́ть	даю́
to stand up, get up, rise, arise (question), come up (question)	встава́ть	встаю́
to get tired	устава́ть	устаю́

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 14 Russian verbs

Class 14 infinitive verbs consist of verbs ending in -ать/-ять. Remove the ending and add either -м or -н to the root of the verb, depending on the verb in question, before adding the suffixes required for the present tense conjugations offirst conjugation verbs. Note that the alternative -ё form is used in the conjugations for the second person singular , the third person singular , the first person plural and the second person plural . The standard first person singular and third person plural endings are –у and -ут respectively. There are just two main verbs to learn in the present simple for this class of Russian verbs.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to press, squeeze, lift (weights)	жа́ть*	жму́
to crumple, wrinkle (paper, fabric)	мя́ть	мну́

*For the verb жа́ть, add ъ to the end of the third person plural.

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 15 Russian verbs

Class 15 infinitive verbs consist of some verbs ending in -ть. Remove the ending and add -н to the root of the verb, before adding the suffixes required for the present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs. The standard first person singular and third person plural endings are –у and -ут respectively.

For example:

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to be cooling down, getting cold, freeze	сты́ть	сты́ну

*For the verb жа́ть, add ъ to the end of the third person plural.

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Class 16 Russian verbs

Class 16 infinitive verbs consist of some verbs ending in -ть. Remove the ending and add -в, before adding the suffixes required for the present tense conjugations of first conjugation verbs. Note that the standard first person singular and third person plural endings are –у and -ут respectively.

For example

English verb	Russian infinitive verb	Example of a conjugated Russian verb
to live	жи́ть	живу́
to swim, float	плы́ть	плыву́

Further examples of this class of verbs may be found on Wikipedia here .

Table illustrating class 4, 5 and 6 infinitive verb consonant changes:

Infinitive verb	Present tense consonant change	Class 4 verb	Class 5 verb	Class 6 verb
-б-	-бл-	любить → люблю	–	колебать → колеблю, колеблешь, etc.
-п-	-пл-	купить → куплю	спать → сплю	щипать → щиплю, щиплешь, etc.
-в-	-вл-	ловить → ловлю	–	–
-ф-	-фл-	графить → графлю	–	–
-м-	-мл-	кормить → кормлю	шуметь → шумлю	дремать → дремлю, дремлешь, etc.
-з-	-ж-	возить → вожу	–	сказать → скажу, скажешь, etc.
-с-	-ш-	просить → прошу	–	писать → пишу, пишешь, etc.
-д-	-ж-	судить → сужу	сидеть → сижу	глодать → гложу, гложешь, etc.
-т-	-ч-*	платить → плачу	лететь → лечу	шептать → шепчу, шепчешь, etc.
-ст-	-щ-	простить → прощу	–	хлестать → хлещу, хлещешь, etc.
-г-	-ж-	–	–	двигать → движу, движешь, etc.
-к-	-ч-	–	–	плакать → плачу, плачешь, etc.
-х-	-ш-	–	–	махать → машу, машешь, etc.
-ск-	-щ-	–	–	искать → ищу, ищешь, etc.

*Some of the verbs which undergoing a consonant change relating to the letter т are replaced with -щ-, not -ч-. For example: похи́тить → похи́щу, защити́ть → защищу́.

In a small number of cases, -т- in class 4 and class 6 verbs, should be replaced with -щ- rather than -ч-.

For example:

English verb	Russian verb	Construction
to slander, smear (e.g. a person’s name)	клеветать	клевещ + -у/-ешь/-ет/-ем/-ете/-ут

In a few other type 6 verbs, there is no consonant change.

For example:

English verb	Russian verb	Construction
to wait	ждать	жду (and not жжу)

Certain verbs contain a so-called ‘fleeting vowel’ (-о-, or -е-), which does not appear in the infinitive, but is found in present tense conjugations.

For example:

English verb	Russian verb	Construction
to drive, chase	гнать	Гон + -ю/-ишь/-ит/-им/-ите/-ят
to take	брать	бер + -у/-ёшь/-ёт/-ём/ёте/-ут

Where these verbs are prefixed with в-, вз-, над-, об-, от-, под-, с-, or раз-, the vowel is positioned between the prefix and the root of the verb.

For example:

English verb	Russian verb	Construction
to kick out	выгнать	выгон + ю/ишь/ит/им/ите /ят

You can practice conjugating verbs on Practice Russian . Be sure to deselect ‘Past tense form of the verb’ so that only present tense conjugations appear in the test.

2 Replies to “Everything you need to know about conjugating Russian verbs in the present tense as a beginner”

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