Cheatsheet: The past and aspect
The past and aspect
Past Tense
| Point | Rule | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | -ти → -в | Учо́ра Тара́с чита́в. | Taras was reading yesterday. |
| Feminine | -ти → -ла | Оле́на працюва́ла вдо́ма. | Olena worked from home. |
| Neuter | -ти → -ло | Учо́ра було́ хо́лодно. | It was cold yesterday. |
| Plural | -ти → -ли | Ми гуля́ли в па́рку. | We went for a walk in the park. |
| Polite Ви | with polite Ви, the verb is plural | Ви були́ в Ки́єві? | Have you been to Kyiv? |
| Verbs in -ся | -вся / -лася / -лися | Він ду́же смія́вся. | He laughed a lot. |
| A2Special forms | іти́ → ішо́в, могти́ → міг | Я не міг прийти́. | I couldn't come. |
| B1Aspect | both aspects have a past tense | Я чита́в кни́жку ≠ Я прочита́в кни́жку | I was reading the book ≠ I read the book to the end |
| Trap | a woman says я була́ | Оле́на: «Я була́ вдо́ма». | Olena: “I was at home.” |
Aspect: Perfective and Imperfective
| Point | Rule | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prefix | роби́ти → зроби́ти | Я вже зроби́в завда́ння. | I've already done the task. |
| Suffix | забува́ти → забу́ти | Я забу́ла ключі́. | I forgot my keys. |
| Imperfective | a process, a repeated action, a general fact | Я ча́сто пишу́ листи́. | I often write letters. |
| Perfective | one finished result | Я написа́в лист. | I've written the letter. |
| Future | imperfective: бу́ду писа́ти; perfective: напишу́ | За́втра я напишу́ лист. | I'll write the letter tomorrow. |
| B1Another root | бра́ти → взя́ти, говори́ти → сказа́ти | Він сказа́в пра́вду. | He told the truth. |
| Trap | an action going on now takes the imperfective | За́раз я чита́ю кни́жку. | I'm reading a book right now. |