{"id":4153,"date":"2012-11-20T08:00:38","date_gmt":"2012-11-20T08:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=4153"},"modified":"2014-07-17T19:06:38","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T19:06:38","slug":"model-of-a-conjugation-paradigm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/model-of-a-conjugation-paradigm\/","title":{"rendered":"“I am the very model of a conjugation paradigm…”"},"content":{"rendered":"

As every student of Russian knows, learning verb conjugations can be a bit daunting. Grammarians claim that Russian has only a \u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430 \u043d\u0435\u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0432<\/b> (“a handful of irregular verbs”) — but for a foreigner, there are countless verbs that might as well be irregular<\/i> because of their conjugational oddities, even if a linguist would insist these verbs aren’t REALLY irregular.<\/p>\n

Of course, while there are no magic shortcuts in language learning, many of the “regular-but-in-a-weird-way” verbs can be grouped into various recurring patterns. So once you’ve memorized certain key verbs, you’ll have an easier time with perhaps a dozen other verbs belonging to the same pattern. We’ve discussed some of these in other posts — for example, verbs that behave like \u0448\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to sew”)<\/a> and those that behave like \u043f\u043b\u0435\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to spit”)<\/a>. But let’s consider a few other “model conjugations.”<\/p>\n

First, though, let’s remember that virtually all Russian verbs fit into one of two broad categories: “-\u0435-<\/b> type” or “-\u0438-<\/b> type.” In fact, the few “truly irregular” verbs, such as \u0431\u0435\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to run,” unidirectionally) and \u0445\u043e\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to want”) have something in common: they’re impossible to classify as either “-\u0435-<\/b> type” or “-\u0438-<\/b> type.”<\/p>\n

Anyway, verbs of the -\u0435-<\/b> type have present or future-perfect conjugations<\/span> like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nsing.<\/i><\/td>\npl.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/i><\/td>\n-y<\/b> or -\u044e<\/b><\/td>\n-\u0435\u043c<\/b> or -\u0451\u043c<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/i><\/td>\n-\u0435\u0448\u044c<\/b> or -\u0451\u0448\u044c<\/b><\/td>\n-\u0435\u0442\u0435<\/b> or -\u0451\u0442\u0435<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/i><\/td>\n-\u0435\u0442<\/b> or -\u0451\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n-\u0443\u0442<\/b> or -\u044e\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

And the -\u0438-<\/b> type verbs conjugate like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nsing.<\/i><\/td>\npl.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/i><\/td>\n-y<\/b> or -\u044e<\/b><\/td>\n-\u0438\u043c<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/i><\/td>\n-\u0438\u0448\u044c<\/b><\/td>\n-\u0438\u0442\u0435<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/i><\/td>\n-\u0438\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n-\u044f\u0442<\/b> or -\u0430\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Beginners will naturally ask: “How do I know if a new verb is -\u0435-<\/b> type or -\u0438-<\/b> type?” And the answer is: In most cases, you can’t tell<\/i> just by looking at the infinitive! There are some exceptions to this: For instance, verbs with an infinitive that ends in -\u0447\u044c<\/b> or -\u0442\u0438<\/b> (instead of the usual -\u0442\u044c<\/b> ending) will practically always belong to the -\u0435-<\/b> group. But if the infinitive ends in -\u0442\u044c<\/b>, there’s no easy rule for knowing whether it’s a -\u0435-<\/b> verb or an -\u0438-<\/b> verb. Which means that knowing the infinitive just isn’t enough.<\/p>\n

EVERY TIME you learn a new Russian verb, you should make a habit of memorizing (at minimum) three forms: the infinitive, the first-singular (\u044f<\/b> form), and the second-singular (\u0442\u044b<\/b> form). For most<\/i> verbs, if you have these three forms committed to memory, you’ll be able to “logically deduce” the verb’s other forms.<\/p>\n

Mind you, so far we’ve only considered the verbal endings<\/i>. The thing that can make verb conjugations so frustrating is that the “stem” may undergo various spelling changes (usually involving the final consonant). But this is where the concept of “key verbs” or “model conjugations” comes in handy. So now, let’s meet a few of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u043c\u044b\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to wash”)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Past<\/i><\/td>\n\u043c\u044b\u043b, \u043c\u044b<\/span>\u043b\u0430, \u043c\u044b<\/span>\u043b\u043e<\/span>, \u043c\u044b<\/span>\u043b\u0438<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nsing.<\/i><\/td>\npl.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/i><\/td>\n\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u044e<\/b><\/td>\n\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0435\u043c<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/i><\/td>\n\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0435\u0448\u044c<\/b><\/td>\n\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0435\u0442\u0435<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/i><\/td>\n\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0435\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u044e\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Things to notice:<\/span> It’s -\u0435-<\/b> type, and in the present (but not the past), the -\u044b-<\/b> of the infinitive changes to a stressed<\/i> -\u043e-<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Other frequently used verbs with this pattern: \u0440\u044b\u0442\u044c<\/b><\/span> (“to dig”), and \u043a\u0440\u044b\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to cover”) — along with the many prefixed perfectives that derive from \u043a\u0440\u044b\u0442\u044c<\/b>, such as \u0441\u043a\u0440\u044b\u0442\u044c<\/b>, “to conceal.” Next up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u0438\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to look for”)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Past<\/i><\/td>\n\u0438\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043b, \u0438\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0430, \u0438\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043e, \u0438\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0438<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nsing.<\/i><\/td>\npl.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/i><\/td>\n\u0438\u0449\u0443<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n\u0438<\/span>\u0449\u0435\u043c<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/i><\/td>\n\u0438<\/span>\u0449\u0435\u0448\u044c<\/b><\/td>\n\u0438<\/span>\u0449\u0435\u0442\u0435<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/i><\/td>\n\u0438<\/span>\u0449\u0435\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n\u0438<\/span>\u0449\u0443\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Example: \u0427\u0435\u0433\u043e<\/span> \u0432\u044b \u0438<\/span>\u0449\u0435\u0442\u0435?<\/b> (“What are you looking for?”)<\/p>\n

Things to notice:<\/span> It’s -\u0435-<\/b> type, and the final consonant(s) of the infinitive stem undergo a “consonant mutation” throughout the entire present\/future conjugation<\/i> — but NOT in the past.<\/p>\n

The verb \u043f\u043b\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to splash”) has the exact same pattern: \u044f \u043f\u043b\u0435\u0449\u0443<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u043f\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0449\u0435\u0448\u044c…<\/b>, etc. And there are quite a few verbs with a similar<\/i> pattern, except that the “consonant mutation” in the non-past forms is something other than -\u0441\u043a-<\/b> becoming -\u0449-<\/b>. For example:<\/p>\n

\u043f\u0438\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to write”) — \u044f \u043f\u0438\u0448\u0443<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u0448\u044c…<\/b>, but past \u043e\u043d \u043f\u0438\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043b<\/b>
\n\u043c\u0430\u0445\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to make a waving motion”) — \u044f \u043c\u0430\u0448\u0443<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u0448\u044c…<\/b>, but past \u043e\u043d \u043c\u0430\u0445\u0430<\/span>\u043b<\/b>
\n\u043f\u043b\u0430\u043a<\/span>\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to weep”) — \u044f \u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0447\u0443, \u0442\u044b \u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0448\u044c…<\/b>, but past \u043e\u043d \u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u043a\u0430\u043b<\/b>
\n\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to cut”) — \u044f \u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0443, \u0442\u044b \u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0448\u044c…<\/b>, but past \u043e\u043d \u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0430\u043b<\/b><\/p>\n

In the above verbs, the same consonant mutation persists throughout the non-past conjugation. But in contrast, you’ve got verbs like…<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u0436\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u044c<\/b> (“to burn something”, transitively)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Past<\/i><\/td>\n\u0436\u0451<\/span>\u0433, \u0436\u0433\u043b\u0430<\/span>, \u0436\u0433\u043b\u043e<\/span>, \u0436\u0433\u043b\u0438<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nsing.<\/i><\/td>\npl.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/i><\/td>\n\u0436\u0433\u0443<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n\u0436\u0436\u0451\u043c<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/i><\/td>\n\u0436\u0436\u0451\u0448\u044c<\/b><\/td>\n\u0436\u0436\u0451\u0442\u0435<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/i><\/td>\n\u0436\u0436\u0451\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n\u0436\u0433\u0443\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Things to notice:<\/span> This -\u0435-<\/b> verb shows two different<\/em> consonant mutations: The -\u0447-<\/b> becomes -\u0433-<\/b> in the 1st-singular, the 3rd-plural, and throughout the past tense. But in the 2nd-sing., 3rd-sing., 1st-pl., and 2nd-pl., there’s a different mutation: -\u0447-<\/b> to -\u0436<\/b>. Also, the past masculine singular does not end<\/i> in the usual -\u043b<\/b>. (BTW, this particular verb happens to have a “fleeting” -\u0451-<\/b> in the non-masculine past forms, but not all -\u0447\u044c<\/b> infinitives do.)<\/p>\n

Other verbs with very similar patterns include \u0431\u0435\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u044c<\/b> (“to keep safe, to guard”)<\/a> — thus:<\/p>\n

\u044f \u0431\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0433\u0443<\/span>
\n\u0442\u044b \u0431\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0436\u0451\u0448\u044c
\n[…]
\n\u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u0431\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0433\u0443<\/span>\u0442<\/b>
\npast: \u043e\u043d \u0431\u0435\u0440\u0451\u0433, \u043e\u043d\u0430<\/span> \u0431\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0433\u043b\u0430<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

And also:<\/p>\n

\u043f\u043e\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u044c<\/b> (“to help”) — \u044f \u043f\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0433\u0443<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u043f\u043e\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0448\u044c… \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u0443\u0442<\/b>; past \u043e\u043d \u043f\u043e\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0433, \u043e\u043d\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0433\u043b\u0430<\/span><\/b>
\n\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0438\u0447\u044c<\/b> (“to cut hair”) — \u044f \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0443<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0438\u0436\u0451\u0448\u044c… \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0443<\/span>\u0442<\/b>; past \u043e\u043d \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0433, \u043e\u043d\u0430 \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0433\u043b\u0430<\/b><\/p>\n

And other verbs have nearly the same pattern, but with a stem ending in -\u043a-<\/b>, not -\u0433-<\/b>:<\/p>\n

\u0442\u0435\u0447\u044c<\/b> (“to flow”) — \u044f \u0442\u0435\u043a\u0443<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u0442\u0435\u0447\u0451\u0448\u044c… \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u0442\u0435\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0442<\/b>; past \u043e\u043d \u0442\u0451\u043a, \u043e\u043d\u0430 \u0442\u0435\u043a\u043b\u0430<\/span><\/b>
\n\u043f\u0435\u0447\u044c<\/b> (“to bake”) — \u044f \u043f\u0435\u043a\u0443<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u043f\u0435\u0447\u0451\u0448\u044c… \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043f\u0435\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0442<\/b>; past \u043e\u043d \u043f\u0451\u043a, \u043e\u043d\u0430 \u043f\u0435\u043a\u043b\u0430<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

So far, we’ve looked only at verbs that belong to the -\u0435-<\/b> group. And in fact, we’re not even close to covering the huge variability of -\u0435-<\/b> verbs! We could also list “-\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c<\/b> perfectives that behave like \u0438\u0441\u0447\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to disappear”)”, which are different from “-\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c<\/b> perfectives that behave like \u043f\u0440\u044b<\/span>\u0433\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to jump”). Then there are “verbs that behave like \u0442\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to rub”),” and “verbs that behave like \u043d\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/b> (“to carry,” unidirectionally) and “verbs that behave like \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043d\u044f\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to lift”), and so on and so on… all of them in the -\u0435-<\/b> category.<\/p>\n

But let’s wrap up the post with a model conjugation from the -\u0438-<\/b> group — which is, in general, less varying than the -\u0435-<\/b> group:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u0442\u0435\u0440\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to endure, to put up with”)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Past<\/i><\/td>\n\u0442\u0435\u0440\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u043b, \u0442\u0435\u0440\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u0430<\/b>, etc.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nsing.<\/i><\/td>\npl.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/i><\/td>\n\u0442\u0435\u0440\u043f\u043b\u044e<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043f\u0438\u043c<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/i><\/td>\n\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043f\u0438\u0448\u044c<\/b><\/td>\n\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043f\u0438\u0442\u0435<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/i><\/td>\n\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043f\u0438\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043f\u044f\u0442<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Things to notice:<\/span> This -\u0438-<\/b> verb has a consonant-mutation (from -\u043f-<\/b> to -\u043f\u043b-<\/b>) but ONLY in the 1st-person singular. Having a mutation in the 1st-sg. only is a characteristic of many -\u0438-<\/b> verbs, but not of -\u0435-<\/b> verbs, where consonant-mutation (if any) tends to occur throughout the whole conjugation, as we saw above. Also, for this verb, the 1st-singular is end-stressed, but then the stress shifts to the stem.<\/p>\n

Other verbs with a 1st-sg. consonant mutation AND a stress-shift:<\/p>\n

\u0441\u0438\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to be sitting”) — \u044f \u0441\u0438\u0436\u0443<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u0448\u044c… \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u044f\u0442<\/b>
\n\u043a\u043e\u0440\u043c\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to feed, to nourish”) — \u044f \u043a\u043e\u0440\u043c\u043b\u044e<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043c\u0438\u0448\u044c… \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043c\u044f\u0442<\/b><\/p>\n

Verbs with a 1st-sg. mutation, but no stress-shift:<\/p>\n

\u0437\u0430\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0435\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to depend”) — \u044f \u0437\u0430\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0448\u0443, \u0442\u044b \u0437\u0430\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0438\u0448\u044c… \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u0437\u0430\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u044f\u0442<\/b>
\n\u043f\u043e\u0441\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to visit”) — \u044f \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0435\u0449\u0443<\/span>, \u0442\u044b \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0448\u044c… \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0435\u0442\u044f<\/span>\u0442<\/b><\/p>\n

As I said, there are no “magic shortcuts,” and no one enjoys rote-memorization. \u041d\u043e<\/span>, \u0435<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438 \u0442\u044b \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u0437\u0443\u0431\u0440\u0438\u0448\u044c \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u0438 \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0441\u043f\u0440\u044f\u0436\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/span><\/b> (“However, if you will have crammed [into your head] these verb conjugations”), there are countless other verbs that will be much easier to learn!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

As every student of Russian knows, learning verb conjugations can be a bit daunting. Grammarians claim that Russian has only a \u0433\u043e\u0440\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430 \u043d\u0435\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0438\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432 (“a handful of irregular verbs”) — but for a foreigner, there are countless verbs that might as well be irregular because of their conjugational oddities, even if a linguist would insist…<\/p>\n

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