говорить/сказать
Aspect Pair Говорить and Сказать
Russian uses two different verbs for 'to speak/say' depending on the aspect: говорить (imperfective) for ongoing or repeated actions, and сказать (perfective) for specific, finished results.
How It Works
To become proficient in Russian, you must distinguish between these two verbs based on imperfective process and perfective result.
1. Говорить (Imperfective):
- Process: Used when the duration of speaking matters (e.g., 'We were talking for an hour').
- Habit/Ability: Used for general facts, like speaking a language (e.g., 'I speak Russian').
- Dialogue: Used with с + instrumental case to show you are having a conversation with someone.
2. Сказать (Perfective):
- Single Action: Used for a specific utterance (e.g., 'He said hello').
- Result: Used when the focus is on the fact that the information was successfully conveyed.
- Future: Since it is perfective, its 'present' forms (скажу, скажешь) indicate the perfective future.
Grammar Note: Both verbs take the dative case for the person being spoken to. To express the topic, use о + prepositional case. To express the specific words said, use the accusative case.
Examples (6)
- Он хорошо говорит по-русски.
He speaks Russian well.
Word by Word: He well speaks in-Russian.
Uses говорить because it describes a general ability or habit.
- Что он тебе сказал?
What did he tell you?
Word by Word: What he to-you said?
Uses сказать because it refers to a specific, completed statement in the past.
- Мы долго говорили о политике.
We talked about politics for a long time.
Word by Word: We long talked about politics.
Uses говорить to emphasize the duration and process of the conversation.
- Я вчера говорил с учителем.
I spoke with the teacher yesterday.
Word by Word: I yesterday spoke with teacher.
Uses говорить with с + instrumental to indicate a two-way conversation or dialogue.
- Я скажу ему правду завтра.
I will tell him the truth tomorrow.
Word by Word: I will-say to-him truth tomorrow.
The perfective form скажу indicates a one-time future action.
- Не говори так!
Don't talk like that!
Word by Word: Not speak so!
Uses the imperfective imperative for a general prohibition or ongoing behavior.
Common Mistakes
Using сказать for language ability.
Я скажу по-русски.Я говорю по-русски.Speaking a language is a general ability/process, so the imperfective говорить must be used. Я скажу means 'I will say [something]'.
Using «сказать» to describe what you are doing right now.
Different MeaningЯ сейчас скажу тебе секрет.Я сейчас говорю тебе секрет.«Я сейчас скажу тебе секрет» is correct, but it means 'I will tell you a secret in a moment'. Perfective verbs have no present tense. To describe what you are doing now, use the imperfective: «Я сейчас говорю тебе секрет».
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the aspectual pair говорить/сказать, learners must first be familiar with the Russian infinitive system and basic verb conjugation. Additionally, since these verbs are transitive, understanding how to form the accusative direct object is essential for constructing complete thoughts like 'telling the truth' or 'saying a word'.
- Accusative direct object
Both verbs in this aspectual pair typically take a direct object in the accusative case to express what is being said.
Level 1 - он/она + -ет/-итPresent Third-person Singular Verb
Knowledge of basic verb conjugation is required to use these verbs in sentences and observe how the aspectual difference functions in practice.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Imperfective aspect for ongoing action
Говорить is the imperfective partner used to describe the process of speaking.
Level 2 - Perfective result
Сказать is the perfective partner used to describe the result of saying something.
Level 3 - Dative indirect object
Both verbs use the dative case to indicate the person to whom something is said (one-way communication).
Level 2 - с + Instrumental (Accompaniment)Instrumental After С for Accompaniment
The verb говорить is used with с and the instrumental case to express a two-way dialogue or conversation.
Level 2 - о/об/обо + PrepositionalPrepositional Topic After О
The preposition о (about) is used with these verbs to indicate the topic of conversation.
Level 2 - Perfective future
The present-tense forms of сказать function as the future tense.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice говорить/сказать in Bubblegum
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