If a sentence includes several actions, the choice of aspect depends on their timing.
- Use the imperfective aspect for actions that happen at the same time (simultaneously).
- Use the perfective aspect for a series of distinct, completed actions that happen one after another.
Compare the examples:
SIMULTANEOUS ACTIONS (Imperfective aspect) | SEQUENTIAL ACTIONS (Perfective aspect) |
1. Вечером я пил чай и смотрел фильм. In the evening, I drank tea and watched a movie. 2. Мама готовила ужин, а дети играли. Mother was cooking dinner, while the children were playing. | 1. Вчера я поужинал и посмотрел фильм. Yesterday, I had dinner and watched a movie. 2. Сначала я приготовила ужин, а потом поиграла с детьми. First, I cooked dinner and then played with the children. |
Listen to the audio to hear these short dialogs
Task 4: Watch the video & answer the questions below
A woman is talking to her husband. She’s on a business trip right now. The husband is at home with their daughter Masha and son Misha.
Vocabulary:
- заказать – to order
- постирать бельё – to do the laundry
- убрать – to clean up / to tidy up
- бургер – burger
- спросить про – to ask about
- доделать – to finish up
- забрать – to pick up / to take
- начать – to start / to begin
- решать задачи – to solve problems
- понятно – I see / it’s clear
- успевать – to make it in/on time
- идея – idea
- после – after
- делать уроки – to do homework
- Эх, ладно! – Oh well! / Fine then!
- Не в уборке счастье! – Happiness is not in cleaning!
Watch the same video with subtitles