делать/сделать
Aspect Pair Делать and Сделать
Делать (imperfective) = to be doing, to do habitually.
Сделать (perfective) = to have done, to finish doing.
How It Works
The pair делать/сделать is the most common way to express 'doing' or 'making' in Russian. Understanding this pair is key to understanding the Russian aspect system.
- Делать (Imperfective): Used for ongoing actions (I am doing), repeated actions (I do every day), or general facts (I was doing). It uses the present tense to describe current actions.
- Сделать (Perfective): Formed by adding the 'empty' prefix с-. It focuses on the completion of the task. Because it is perfective, its 'present' forms actually function as the perfective future (I will finish/do).
Both verbs are first-conjugation and require a direct object in the accusative case.
Examples (5)
- Что ты делаешь?
What are you doing?
Word by Word: What you doing?
Uses the imperfective 'делать' because it asks about a process happening right now.
- Я обычно делаю зарядку утром.
I usually do exercises in the morning.
Word by Word: I usually do exercise in morning.
Uses the imperfective for repeated actions.
- Я уже сделал домашнее задание.
I have already done the homework.
Word by Word: I already did home task.
Uses the perfective for a completed result.
- Завтра я сделаю это.
I will do it tomorrow.
Word by Word: Tomorrow I will-do this.
The perfective form 'сделаю' indicates a future action that will be completed.
- Не делай этого!
Don't do that!
Word by Word: Not do this!
Uses the negative imperfective imperative for a general prohibition.
Common Mistakes
Using 'сделаю' to say what you are doing now.
Different MeaningЯ сейчас сделаю работу.Я сейчас делаю работу.The sentence is correct, but it means 'I will do the work now'. To say 'I am doing it right now', use 'делаю'. Perfective verbs have no present tense.
Using 'делать' for sports or hobbies.
Я делаю спорт.Я занимаюсь спортом.For hobbies and sports, Russian uses заниматься with the instrumental case, not 'делать'.
Using the perfective for habitual actions.
Я всегда сделал это быстро.Я всегда делал это быстро.A habit in the past normally takes the imperfective aspect: всегда делал.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the aspectual pair делать/сделать, learners need to be familiar with basic verb conjugation and the use of the accusative case for direct objects, as these verbs are transitive and their meaning often depends on the completion of an action upon an object.
- Accusative direct object
The aspect pair делать/сделать is typically used with a direct object in the accusative case to show the result or process of an action.
Level 1 - он/она + -ет/-итPresent Third-person Singular Verb
Knowledge of basic verb conjugation is required to apply aspectual differences across different tenses and persons.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Imperfective process
Explains the general usage of the imperfective aspect for ongoing actions like 'делать'.
Level 3 - Perfective result
Explains how the perfective aspect like 'сделать' focuses on the end result.
Level 3 - буду + InfinitiveCompound Imperfective Future
Used to form the future tense for the imperfective 'делать' (я буду делать).
Level 3 - Perfective future
Explains how the perfective 'сделаю' forms the simple future.
Level 3 - заниматься + InstrumentalInstrumental with Заниматься
The correct verb to use for 'doing' sports or hobbies instead of 'делать'.
Level 3 - не + Imperfective ImperativeNegative Imperative with the Imperfective
Explains why 'не делай' is the standard way to say 'don't do'.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice делать/сделать in Bubblegum
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