начинать + Imperfective Infinitive
Phase Verbs with Imperfective Infinitive
When using verbs that describe a stage of an action—like starting, continuing, or finishing—the following verb must be in the imperfective aspect. This is a strict rule in Russian syntax.
How It Works
In Russian, certain verbs indicate the beginning, continuation, or end of an activity. These are called 'phase verbs.'
1. The Rule:
Phase verbs are always followed by an imperfective infinitive. You cannot use a perfective infinitive here, even if you are talking about a completed result. The phase verb itself already handles the 'completion' aspect of the start or end.
2. Common Phase Verbs:
- Start: начинать / начать (to begin), стать (to start/become), приниматься / приняться (to set about).
- Continue: продолжать / продолжить (to continue).
- End/Stop: кончать / кончить (to finish), заканчивать / закончить (to end), прекращать / прекратить (to cease), переставать / перестать (to stop), бросать / бросить (to quit/give up).
3. Aspect of the Phase Verb:
The phase verb itself can be in the perfective or imperfective aspect. This choice depends on the context of the sentence, but it never changes the requirement for the following infinitive to be imperfective.
4. Why Imperfective?
Russian logic treats the action following a phase verb as a process. You start the process of reading, you continue the process of working, or you stop the process of talking. Since the focus is on the activity as a flow, the imperfective is the only grammatical choice.
Examples (5)
- Он начал изучать русский язык.
He began studying Russian.
Word by Word: He began to-study Russian language.
Even though 'начал' is perfective, the following verb 'изучать' must be imperfective.
- Она перестала плакать.
She stopped crying.
Word by Word: She stopped to-cry.
The verb 'перестать' (to stop) always triggers the imperfective infinitive.
- Мы продолжим обсуждать этот проект завтра.
We will continue discussing this project tomorrow.
Word by Word: We will-continue to-discuss this project tomorrow.
Future phase verbs also require the imperfective infinitive.
- Я закончил писать письмо.
I finished writing the letter.
Word by Word: I finished to-write letter.
Even if the letter is finished, the verb 'закончить' requires the imperfective 'писать'.
- Студенты стали задавать вопросы.
The students started asking questions.
Word by Word: Students started to-ask questions.
The verb 'стать' here means 'to start' and follows the phase verb rule.
Common Mistakes
Using a perfective infinitive after a phase verb.
Я начал прочитать книгу.Я начал читать книгу.Learners often try to use the perfective 'прочитать' to show they intend to finish the book, but phase verbs strictly forbid perfective infinitives.
Using the imperfective after «хотеть» when you want to finish the book.
Different MeaningЯ хочу читать эту книгу.Я хочу прочитать эту книгу.«Я хочу читать эту книгу» is correct, but it is about the process of reading. Modal verbs like «хотеть» allow both aspects. To say you want to finish it, use the perfective: «Я хочу прочитать эту книгу». Phase verbs like «начинать» do not allow this choice.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use phase verbs like 'начинать' (to begin), you need to understand how to conjugate the main verb and how to form the infinitive of the action being started. Crucially, you must recognize the distinction between imperfective and perfective aspects, as phase verbs are grammatically restricted to taking only imperfective infinitives.
- Imperfective aspect for ongoing action
Understanding the concept of the imperfective aspect is essential because phase verbs specifically require the imperfective infinitive to denote the ongoing nature of the action.
Level 2 - он/она + -ет/-итPresent Third-person Singular Verb
Phase verbs like начинать are conjugated verbs; knowledge of basic present tense conjugation is necessary to form sentences with this pattern.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Imperfective process
This pattern is a specific syntactic requirement for the imperfective aspect used to denote a process.
Level 3 - Perfective result
Phase verbs themselves are often perfective to show the completion of the 'start' or 'end' event.
Level 3 - -тьInfinitive Ending Ть
Phase verbs are always followed by the infinitive form of the second verb.
Level 1 - буду + InfinitiveCompound Imperfective Future
Like phase verbs, the compound future also strictly requires an imperfective infinitive.
Level 3 - быть/стать + InstrumentalInstrumental Predicate After Быть and Стать
The verb 'стать' can be a phase verb (to start) or a copula (to become); the latter takes the instrumental case.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice начинать + Imperfective Infinitive in Bubblegum
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