Perfective Aspect
Я прачытаў кнігу. (I finished reading the book.) The perfective shows one complete action and its result.
How It Works
The perfective presents an action as a finished whole. Its main uses are:
- A result. Я зрабіў урокі. (I have done my homework.) The homework is finished. Compare the imperfective Я рабіў урокі. (I was doing homework.), which does not say whether it got done.
- A single event. Учора я ўбачыў Марыну ў горадзе. (Yesterday I saw Maryna in town.)
- A sequence. Each action is complete before the next: Ён прыйшоў дадому, павячэраў і лёг спаць. (He came home, had dinner and went to bed.)
- One action in the future. Заўтра я напішу ліст. (Tomorrow I will write the letter.) See the perfective future.
No present tense. A perfective verb conjugated with present endings always points to the future: я прачытаю means I will read it through. To say I am reading, use the imperfective я чытаю. Never put буду before a perfective verb: буду goes only with imperfective infinitives.
Helpful signals. Words like ужо (already), нарэшце (finally) and за plus a length of time (in two days) often go with the perfective: Я прачытаў кнігу за два дні. (I read the book in two days.)
Most perfectives are made from an imperfective with a prefix: aspect pairs with a prefix. For the overview, see verb aspect.
Examples (6)
- Я прачытаў кнігу.
I finished reading the book.
Word by Word: I read-through book.
- Ён напісаў ліст.
He wrote the letter.
Word by Word: He wrote letter.
The letter is finished.
- Учора я ўбачыў Марыну ў горадзе.
Yesterday I saw Maryna in town.
Word by Word: Yesterday I saw Maryna in town.
- Ён прыйшоў дадому, павячэраў і лёг спаць.
He came home, had dinner and went to bed.
Word by Word: He came home, dined and lay-down to-sleep.
- Заўтра я напішу ліст.
Tomorrow I will write the letter.
Word by Word: Tomorrow I will-write letter.
- Я прачытаў кнігу за два дні.
I read the book in two days.
Word by Word: I read-through book in two days.
За plus a length of time says how long it took to finish.
Common Mistakes
Putting буду before a perfective infinitive to make the future.
Я буду напісаць ліст.Я напішу ліст.A perfective verb makes its future with its own endings: напішу. Буду is only used with imperfective infinitives, as in буду пісаць.
Using a perfective form when you mean an action happening now.
Цяпер я напішу ліст.Цяпер я пішу ліст.Напішу means I will write it. For I am writing a letter now, use the imperfective пішу.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The perfective follows the aspect overview.
Related Patterns
- Imperfective Aspect
The partner aspect, for processes and habits.
Level 2 - Perfective Future
Perfective verbs use present-tense endings for the future.
Level 3 - Aspect Pairs Made with a Prefix
Most perfectives are made with a prefix.
Level 2 - Aspect Pairs with Suffixes or Different Stems
Other perfectives differ by suffix or stem.
Level 3 - Aspect in Commands
A perfective command asks for one specific result.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Perfective Aspect in Bubblegum
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