Let’s compare the verbs ‘ехать’, ‘поехать’ and ‘приехать’.

• ехать (to go, to be going [by transport])

Used when talking about movement right now or when focus is on the process of going. 

1. Я еду в школу. 
I am going to school (now).

2. Когда мы ехали в Москву, мы смотрели фильм в автобусе.
When we were going to Moscow, we watched a movie on the bus.

3. Мы ехали на дачу четыре часа и очень устали.
We were going to dacha (summer house) for four hours and got very tired.

Note! ‘Ехать’ can be also used when talking about plans for near future.

Мы в субботу едем на дачу.
We are going to dacha (summer house) on Saturday.

• поехать (to go, to set off [by transport])

Used when talking about the beginning of movement (start of a trip) or future plans for going somewhere.

1. Он поехал домой. 
He went home.

2. Я хочу поехать в Африку.
I want to go to Africa.

• приехать (to arrive, to come [by transport])

Used when speaking about the end of the movement, arriving at a place.

1. Я приехал в Москву в сентябре. 
I arrived in Moscow in September.

2. Когда ты приедешь домой? 
When will you come home?

Let’s summarize it. When choosing the verb, think the following:

• ехать = to be going (the trip is happening)
• поехать = to start the trip or to depart
• приехать = to finish the trip, to arrive

Listen to the audio to hear the correct answers

Listen to the audio to hear the correct answers