Aspect Pairs Made with a Prefix
Add a prefix and the verb becomes perfective: рабіць → зрабіць (do), пісаць → напісаць (write), чытаць → прачытаць (read).
How It Works
Here are common pairs where a prefix makes the perfective:
- рабіць → зрабіць (do, make)
- пісаць → напісаць (write)
- чытаць → прачытаць (read)
- піць → выпіць (drink)
- есці → з'есці (eat)
- бачыць → убачыць (see)
- мыць → памыць (wash)
- вячэраць → павячэраць (have dinner)
- вучыць → вывучыць (learn, study until you know it)
- будаваць → пабудаваць (build)
No rule predicts the prefix. Чытаць takes пра-, пісаць takes на-, рабіць takes з-. A dictionary gives the partner, so learn чытаць, прачытаць as a pair rather than guessing.
Spelling. In з'есці the prefix з- meets е, so an apostrophe separates them: the apostrophe. The prefix з- also changes spelling before some consonants: the prefix з- and с-.
Prefixes that change the meaning. Other prefixes do more than add completion. Перапісаць means to rewrite, падпісаць to sign, перачытаць to reread, and пачытаць to read for a while (па- for a while). These are new perfective verbs, and they get their own imperfective partner with a suffix: перапісаць, перапісваць. See secondary imperfectives.
Some pairs use a suffix or a different stem instead: pairs with suffixes or different stems.
Examples (6)
- Я ўжо ўсё зрабіў.
I have already done everything.
Word by Word: I already everything did.
- Ён напісаў ліст сястры.
He wrote a letter to his sister.
Word by Word: He wrote letter to-sister.
- Яна прачытала гэтую кнігу за тыдзень.
She read this book in a week.
Word by Word: She read-through this book in week.
- Я выпіў каву і пайшоў на працу.
I drank my coffee and went to work.
Word by Word: I drank coffee and went to work.
- Хто з'еў мой бутэрброд?
Who ate my sandwich?
Word by Word: Who ate my sandwich?
- Мы памылі посуд пасля вячэры.
We washed the dishes after dinner.
Word by Word: We washed dishes after dinner.
Common Mistakes
Choosing a prefix that makes a different verb instead of the aspect partner.
Я пачытаў кнігу і нарэшце яе скончыў.Я прачытаў кнігу і нарэшце яе скончыў.Пачытаць means to read for a little while. The partner that means finish reading is прачытаць.
Using a meaning-changing prefix when you only want completion.
Я перачытаў гэтую кнігу ўпершыню.Я прачытаў гэтую кнігу ўпершыню.Перачытаць means to read again, which clashes with ўпершыню (for the first time). For simply finishing a book, use прачытаць.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Aspect pairs need both aspects.
Related Patterns
- Verb Aspect
Explains what the two verbs in a pair mean.
Level 2 - Aspect Pairs with Suffixes or Different Stems
The other main way pairs are formed.
Level 3 - Secondary Imperfectives
Meaning-changing prefixes create new perfectives with their own imperfective partners.
Level 5 - The Apostrophe
Explains the apostrophe in з'есці.
Level 1 - The Prefix па- for a WhileDoing Something for a While with Па-
Па- can mean for a while instead of simple completion.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- класці / ставіцьPutting Things Lying or StandingLevel 3
- пайсці / паехацьSetting Off with Пайсці and ПаехацьLevel 3
- прыйсці / прыходзіцьArriving with Прыйсці and ПрыходзіцьLevel 3
- The Prefix з-/с-The Prefix З- and С-Level 4
- The Prefix да- for FinishingFinishing with Да-Level 5
- The Prefix за- for StartingStarting an Action with За-Level 5
- The Prefix пера- for Redoing and OverdoingRedoing and Overdoing with Пера-Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice Aspect Pairs Made with a Prefix in Bubblegum
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