Some of you may be confused with Infinitive verb in Russian language topic but we want to assure you that there is nothing hard about it. Lots of websites have already posted their explanations of it but they could hardly explain 3 easy questions:
- What is an infinitive verb in Russian?
- How can you remember such a large number of endings of infinitive verbs in Russian?
- How infinitive verbs can be used in sentences?
If you know answers on these questions, then skip this article because you already know this topic very well.
#1 What is an infinitive verb in Russian?
It worth to mention, that Russian language has initial form of the words. Initial words are changeable and can be found in a Russian Dictionary. So if you open the Dictionary and see words there, be sure they are all initially formed and by changing endings depending on case, gender, tense, number etc., you get the right formed word for your sentence.
Initial nouns: машина – a car, мебель – a furniture, гитара – a guitar etc.
and
Infinitive verbs: смотреть – to watch, знать – to know, мочь – to be able to…
So what is an Infinitive verb in Russian? It is initial form of verbs that can be found in a Dictionary. Such verbs designate an action or condition but don’t give us information about tense, gender or number in which those are used.
Such infinitive verbs answer two, similar to each other, questions:
What to do? – “Что делать?” – see some examples:
| Russian | English |
| говорить | to speak |
| любить | to love |
| готовить | to cook |
(Imperfective verbs – simply means the action is in the process)
What to do? – “Что сделать?” – see some examples:
| Russian | English |
| рассказать | to tell |
| полюбить | to love |
| готовить | to cook |
(Perfective – simply means the action is finished or complete)
#2 How can you remember such a large number of endings of infinitive verbs in Russian?
Now, we are about to give you the irrefragable answer.
Some internet resources are offering you to memorize such endings of infinitive verbs in Russian language:
-ать | -ять | -еть | -уть | -оть | -ыть | -ти | -чь | -зть | -сть | -ить
The secret is that you don’t have to memorize them all! Because you only need to keep in mind those 3 main endings:
| Ending | Russian | English |
| -чь | Беречь | to keep, to safeguard |
| -ть | Петь | to sing |
| -ти | Идти | to go, to walk |
So the answer on the second question is simple: You have to memorize only 3 main endings of infinitive verbs. The other 8 endings are formed based on those 3.
#3 How infinitive verbs can be used in sentences?
It’s also quite easy to understand. You just need to remember those simple and logic 6 situations in which Russian infinitive verbs can be used:
1. Russian infinitive verbs can be used in the construction of compound future tense. Therefore it’s similar to English language.
| Russian | English |
| Они будут гулять на улице | They will walk outside |
| Маша будет петь песню | Maria will sing a song |
| Мы будем идти в лес | We will go to the forest |
2. Russian infinitive verbs are used with verbs denoting the beginning, continuation, or ending of an action.
| Russian | English |
| Я начал читать новую книгу | I started reading a new book |
| Они продолжали кричать друг на друга | They kept shouting at each other |
| Мы заканчиваем плести новый браслет | We finish weaving a new bracelet |
3. Russian verbs are also used after such words:
| Russian | English | Example |
| должен | must | Я должен ехать в Москву – I must go to Moscow |
| рад | glad happy | Они рады приветствовать новых чемпионов в своём городе – They are happy to welcome new champions in their city |
| готов | ready | Мы готовы взять маленького щенка к себе домой – We are ready to take the little puppy to our home |
| обязан | obliged | Ты должен дать интервью журналистам – You’re obliged to give an interview to journalists |
| намерен | Intended | Президент намерен распустить парламент – President intends to dissolve parliament |
4. Russian infinitive verbs are used in combination with predicative adverbs and adjectives, such as:
| Russian | English | Example |
| надо, нужно | should, have to | Мне нужно ехать в Москву – I should go to Moscow |
| необходимо | it is necessary | Необходимо поддерживать друг друга – It’s necessary to support each other |
| можно | may, it is possible | Мне можно взять маленького щенка к себе домой – I may to take the little puppy to my home |
| нельзя | can’t, should not | Тебе нельзя пить много кофе – You shout not drink too much coffee |
| трудно | difficult | Президенту трудно управлять парламентом – It is difficult for the president to manage the parliament |
5. Russian infinitive verbs are used also in combination with verbs of motion, such as:
| Russian | English | Example |
| идти | to go (by foot) | Мария идёт в кинотеатр смотреть новый фильм – Maria goes to the cinema to watch a new film. |
| ездить | to go (by vehicle) | Каждый год, мы ездим на море ловить морскую рыбу – Every year we go to the sea to catch sea fish |
| поехать | to go (by vehicle) | Они поехали покупать новый костюм Андрею – They went to buy a new suit to Andrew |
| ходить | to walk | Каждые выходные, я хожу в кафе кушать мороженое – Every weekend, I go to a cafe to eat ice cream |
| лететь | to fly | Команда канадских хоккеистов летит в США играть с Русской сборной – The team of Canadian hockey players flies to the USA to play with the Russian national team |
Please keep in mind the following: The infinitive verbs are never used with the verb знать – to know!
6. Russian infinitive verbs are used as a subject of a sentence where the infinitive often expresses a peremptory (business-like) order.
See the following examples:
| Russian | English |
| Согласно договору №12345, выплатить господину Андрею денежную сумму в размере… | According to the contract #12345, to pay Mr. Andrew a sum of money in the amount of … |
| Здесь курить ЗАПРЕЩЕНО! | It is forbidden to smoke here! |
| Громко НЕ разговаривать | Do not talk loudly |
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