Perfective Future

Level 3Sounds Like prostaâ forma budučaga času

Perfective verb + present-tense endings = future: я напішу (I'll write), ён прыйдзе (he'll come), мы купім (we'll buy).

How It Works

Take a perfective verb and give it the present-tense endings of its conjugation (first or second). The result is a future:

  • напісаць (to write, finish writing): я напішу, ты напішаш, ён напіша, мы напішам, вы напішаце, яны напішуць
  • купіць (to buy): я куплю, ты купіш, ён купіць, мы купім, вы купіце, яны купяць
  • прыйсці (to come, arrive): я прыйду, ты прыйдзеш, ён прыйдзе, мы прыйдзем, вы прыйдзеце, яны прыйдуць

Compare three forms of one pair:

  • Я пішу ліст. I am writing a letter. (imperfective, present)
  • Я напішу ліст. I will write the letter. (perfective, future)
  • Я буду пісаць ліст. I will be writing a letter. (imperfective, compound future)

When to use it. For one action with a result: a promise, a plan with a clear outcome, or what will happen next. Я патэлефаную ўвечары (I'll call in the evening), Калі ты прыйдзеш? (When will you come?). It is common after калі (if): Калі будзе час, я дапамагу (If I have time, I'll help).

No буду. Perfective verbs never take буду. Say я зраблю, not буду зрабіць.

Consonant changes. Some verbs change the last consonant of the stem in some forms: купіць → куплю, зрабіць → зраблю, напісаць → напішу. See consonant changes in verb forms. Many perfectives are made by adding a prefix; see aspect pairs made with a prefix.

Negation says the action will not happen: Ён не прыйдзе (He won't come).

Examples (6)

  1. Я напішу ліст заўтра.

    I'll write the letter tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I will-write letter tomorrow.

    напісаць is perfective, so напішу is future.

  2. Заўтра ён прыйдзе.

    He will come tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow he will-come.

  3. Мы купім білеты ў панядзелак.

    We'll buy the tickets on Monday.

    Word by Word: We will-buy tickets on Monday.

  4. Я патэлефаную табе ўвечары.

    I'll call you in the evening.

    Word by Word: I will-call you in-evening.

  5. Калі ты скончыш працу?

    When will you finish work?

    Word by Word: When you will-finish work?

  6. Не хвалюйся, я ўсё зраблю.

    Don't worry, I'll do everything.

    Word by Word: Not worry, I everything will-do.

    зраблю: б becomes бл in the я form.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding буду to a perfective verb.

    Я буду зрабіць гэта заўтра.
    Я зраблю гэта заўтра.

    A perfective verb forms its future in one word. Буду goes only with imperfective infinitives.

  • Using a perfective form to describe what is happening now.

    Я прачытаю кнігу ўжо гадзіну.
    Я чытаю кнігу ўжо гадзіну.

    Ужо гадзіну describes an action that is still going on, so it needs the imperfective present: чытаю. Прачытаю only refers to the future: I will read the book to the end.

  • Forgetting the consonant change in the я form.

    Я купю хлеб.
    Я куплю хлеб.

    In купіць the п becomes пл in the я form: куплю. The other forms keep п: купіш, купім.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Perfective FutureLevel 3

Learn This First

The perfective future needs the perfective and present endings.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.