Russian verbs of motion

From UniLang Wiki

Verbs denoting motion can be confusing in Russian, due to the fact that not only are the rules of verb aspect present, but there are also different Verb Forms for Uni-directional (action proceeds in single direction) and Multi- Directional (action can go in all directions, to and fro, or simply habitually.)

The concept isn't too hard to grasp when you realize that only the verbs denoting the very basic concept of the motion have uni-directional and multi-directional forms (verbs: to go, to carry, to lead, to fly, etc.) Both of these forms are Imperfective.

To get perfective aspect of these forms, simply add prefix по- to uni-directional form.

Prefixes (other than по-) are added to the Multi-directional and Uni-directional verbs giving more precise meanings to the Motion described in Verb (to go IN, to go ACROSS, to EXIT, to FETCH, etc.) These Multi- and Uni- directional verbs with new prefixes LOSE this distinction, both becoming (uni-directional) Imperfective and Perfective pairs, just like anyother verb in Russian.

That is indeed a mouthful. Lets look at some of these Verbs and try and make sense of it...

Verbs denoting basic concepts of motion:

	multi-directional <imperfective>	uni-directional <imperfective>	perfective
"to go"	ходить	идти	пойти
"to go"	ездить	ехать	поехать	by transport
"to run"	бегать	бежать	побежать
"to fly"	летать	лететь	полететь

Now, notice that to get a Perfective Aspect from these you add -по to the Uni-directional Form. The two imperfective forms distinguish between a one directional motion or a multi-directional (or habitual motion)... Note the varying uses of the forms:

Когда ты ходишь обычно в школу?
(habitually= multi-dir)

When do you go usually go to school?

Ты сейчас идёшь в школу?

(from here to there, this instance= uni dir)

Are you going to school right now?

Когда ты снова пойдёшь в школу?

(when habitual action will resume= multi- dir)

When will you be going to school again?

быть идти

example needed...

Ты пойдёшь туда ещё раз?

(single trip implied= perfective)

will you go there once more?

Now, remember, both Multi-directional and Uni- directional verb forms are Imperfective and denote the very basic ideas of movement. To form the Perfective of these, add the prefix по- to the Uni-directional verb.

For more precise meanings, you add prefixes other than по- to both the Multi-directional and the Uni-directional forms to form imperfective- perfective pair," both being Uni-directional verbs of motion.

Here is a table of some prefixes, many of which are also used alone as prepositions, that can be added to Verbs of Motion, which add to the original meanings.

     </td>

<tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">про-</td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">through, past</td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">вы-</td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">out/ out of, off/ off (transportation)</td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">в- (во-)</td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">in/ into, on/ onto (transportation)</td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">у-</td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">away (from), departure</td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">при-</td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">towards, arrival</td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">пере-</td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">across, over</td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">за-</td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">to drop by, pick up (something/ someone)</td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">под-</td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">approaching, right up to</td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">от-</td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">(away) from a given point</td> </td> </tr> </table> Here is the verb "to go" (ходить / идти) in it's base form and then with various prefixes, which add different shades of meaning to the base meaning.

до-	as far as, up to, until

	imperfective <multi-directional>	imperfective <uni-directional>	perfective
"to go"	ходить	идти	пойти
"to reach, to get to"		доходить	дойти
"to go through, past"		проходить	пройти
"to go out of, to get off of"		выходить	выйти
"to go into, to get onto"		входить	войти

These verbs offer more precise meanings of the movement.

Я иду домой.

I am going home.

Джеф пришёл!

Geoff has arrived!

These are often used with other prepostitions.

Я зайду сегодня за ними.

I'll stop by for them today.

Как дойти до школы?

How do I get to the school? : (How to get...?)

Как пройти от школы до твоего дома?

How do I get from the school to your house?

Когда вы выходите (из поезда)? Я выхожу на следующей станции.

When are you getting off of the train? I am getting off at the next station.

UNFINISHED