бігти / бігати
Determinate and Indeterminate Running
Ukrainian uses two different verbs for 'to run' depending on the nature of the movement. Бігти is for a specific, one-way trip (determinate), while бігати is for habits, multi-directional movement, or general ability (indeterminate).
How It Works
To use these correctly, you must determine the 'path' of the runner:
1. Бігти (Determinate): Use this when someone is running in one specific direction at a specific moment. It is often used with куди (where to).
- Example: I am running to the store right now.
2. Бігати (Indeterminate): Use this for actions that don't have a single destination or are repeated. This includes:
- Habits: 'I run every morning.'
- Round trips: 'He runs to school and back.'
- General exercise: 'They are running in the park' (around in circles/randomly).
- Ability: 'The baby can already run.'
Conjugation Notes:
Бігти is irregular. In the present tense, the stem changes from г to ж: я біжу, ти біжиш, вони біжать. In the masculine past tense, it is simply біг (no -в suffix).
Бігати is a regular -ати verb: я бігаю, ти бігаєш, вони бігають.
Examples (5)
- Куди ти біжиш?
Where are you running (to)?
Word by Word: Where to you run?
Uses 'бігти' because it asks about a specific direction at this very moment.
- Я бігаю в парку щодня.
I run in the park every day.
Word by Word: I run in park every day.
Uses 'бігати' because it describes a habitual, repeated action.
- Дивись, спортсмен біжить до фінішу!
Look, the athlete is running to the finish line!
Word by Word: Look, athlete runs to finish!
Uses 'бігти' for a continuous movement toward a specific goal.
- Діти люблять бігати на вулиці.
Children love to run (around) outside.
Word by Word: Children love to run on street.
Uses 'бігати' because the running is general and multi-directional.
- Він біг дуже швидко, але не встиг на автобус.
He was running very fast, but didn't make the bus.
Word by Word: He ran very fast, but not managed on bus.
Uses the past tense of 'бігти' (біг) for a specific instance of running in one direction.
Common Mistakes
Using 'бігти' for habits.
Я біжу кожного ранку.Я бігаю кожного ранку.Even if you run in a straight line, a habit requires the indeterminate verb 'бігати'.
Forgetting the consonant mutation in 'бігти'.
Я бігу додому.Я біжу додому.The stem 'г' must change to 'ж' in all present tense forms of 'бігти'.
Adding -в to the masculine past tense of 'бігти'.
Він бігов швидко.Він біг швидко.The masculine past tense of 'бігти' is an exception and does not take the standard -в suffix.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the difference between determinate and indeterminate verbs of motion, you first need to be comfortable with basic verb forms and how different cases (Accusative for direction and Locative for location) interact with movement to change the meaning of the sentence.
- -тиInfinitive Ending -ти
Understanding the base form of verbs is necessary to recognize the distinction between the two infinitive stems.
Level 1 - в/у і на + Accusative (Direction)Accusative Direction with В/у and На
Determinate verbs of motion like 'бігти' are frequently used with the Accusative case to indicate a specific destination.
Level 2 - в/у + LocativeLocative Place with В/у
Indeterminate verbs of motion like 'бігати' are frequently used with the Locative case to describe movement within a general area.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- іти / ходитиDeterminate and Indeterminate Motion on Foot
The same determinate/indeterminate logic applies to walking on foot.
Level 3 - їхати / їздитиDeterminate and Indeterminate Vehicle Motion
The same determinate/indeterminate logic applies to traveling by vehicle.
Level 3 - нести / носитиDeterminate and Indeterminate Carrying
The same determinate/indeterminate logic applies to carrying items.
Level 3 - Present tense of regular -ати verbs
The verb 'бігати' follows this regular conjugation pattern.
Level 1 - First-Person Singular Verb Consonant Alternations
Explains the г to ж mutation found in 'бігти'.
Level 3 - піти / поїхатиSetting Off on Foot or by Vehicle
Shows how adding a prefix to a determinate verb creates a perfective 'setting off' meaning.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice бігти / бігати in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Ukrainian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
