Need the rule behind this exercise? Read Motion verbs. For the bigger picture, explore Russian grammar.
Prefixed Motion Verbs: Arrival, Departure, and Routes 1
Practice при-, у-, в-/вы-, под-, от-, пере-, and про- in natural directional and aspect-sensitive contexts.
This is a preview of the drill content. Interactive practice loads automatically when JavaScript is available.
Browse Motion Verbs practiceQuestion 1
Поезд наконец ___ на станцию и остановился.
English context
Choose the perfective verb for a train arriving at the station.
Options
- приходил
- прибыл
- уехал
- подъезжал
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- прибыл
Correct feedback
Correct! Прибыл marks the completed arrival of the train.
Grammar rule
При- expresses arrival or coming to a destination. Прибыть is perfective and emphasizes that the arrival was completed; прибывать is imperfective.
Question 2
Последний автобус уже ___, поэтому нам придётся идти пешком.
English context
Choose the perfective verb for a bus leaving and no longer being there.
Options
- уезжал
- уехал
- приехал
- подъехал
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- уехал
Correct feedback
Exactly! Уехал means the bus departed and is now gone.
Grammar rule
У- expresses departure or movement away. Уехать is perfective for one completed departure; уезжать is imperfective for a departure in progress or repeated departures.
Question 3
Гости ___ в комнату и тихо закрыли дверь.
English context
Choose the perfective verb for entering a room.
Options
- входили
- вошли
- вышли
- подошли
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- вошли
Correct feedback
Well done! Вошли describes the guests completing their entry into the room.
Grammar rule
В- (with the form войти) expresses entering. Войти is perfective for completed entry; входить is imperfective for entry in progress or repeated entry.
Question 4
Когда прозвенел звонок, ученики ___ из класса.
English context
Choose the perfective verb for leaving a classroom.
Options
- входили
- вышли
- подошли
- отходили
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- вышли
Correct feedback
Correct! Вышли means the pupils exited the classroom.
Grammar rule
Вы- expresses movement out of a place. Выйти is perfective for a completed exit; выходить is imperfective for an exit in progress or repeated exits.
Question 5
Такси медленно ___ к главному входу, чтобы высадить пассажира.
English context
Choose the imperfective verb for a vehicle approaching a point.
Options
- подъехало
- подъезжает
- отъезжает
- переезжает
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- подъезжает
Correct feedback
Excellent! Подъезжает shows the taxi is approaching the entrance now.
Grammar rule
Под- expresses approaching or coming up to something. Подъезжать is imperfective for an approach in progress; подъехать is perfective for reaching the point.
Question 6
Самолёт уже ___ от терминала.
English context
Choose the imperfective verb for a plane moving away from the terminal.
Options
- подлетает
- отлетает
- перелетает
- прилетает
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- отлетает
Correct feedback
Right! Отлетает describes the plane's departure from the terminal in progress.
Grammar rule
От- expresses moving away from a place. Отлетать is imperfective for departure in progress or repeated departure; отлететь is perfective for a completed departure.
Question 7
Пешеходы ___ дорогу на зелёный свет и оказались на другой стороне.
English context
Choose the perfective verb for crossing a road.
Options
- переходили
- перешли
- прошли
- подошли
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- перешли
Correct feedback
Perfect! Перешли marks the completed crossing from one side of the road to the other.
Grammar rule
Пере- expresses crossing or moving across. Перейти is perfective for a completed crossing; переходить is imperfective for crossing in progress or as a repeated action.
Question 8
Грузовик ___ через туннель всю ночь, пока шёл ремонт дороги.
English context
Choose the imperfective verb for repeatedly passing through a tunnel.
Options
- проехал
- проезжал
- переехал
- подъезжал
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- проезжал
Correct feedback
Correct! Проезжал describes the truck's repeated or ongoing passage through the tunnel during the night.
Grammar rule
Про- expresses passing through or past. Проезжать is imperfective for an ongoing or repeated passage; проехать is perfective for passing through once and completing the route.
Question 9
Мы ___ мимо старого замка, не заметив его в тумане.
English context
Choose the perfective verb for passing a landmark once.
Options
- проезжали
- проехали
- переехали
- подъехали
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- проехали
Correct feedback
Exactly! Проехали describes one completed passage past the castle.
Grammar rule
Проехать is perfective for completing one passage past or through a place; проезжать is imperfective for passage in progress, repeated passage, or a background action.
Question 10
После короткой остановки поезд ___ дальше.
English context
Choose the perfective verb for a train setting off again.
Options
- подъезжал
- поехал
- отъезжал
- переезжал
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- поехал
Correct feedback
Well done! Поехал means the train set off and began moving onward.
Grammar rule
По- with a motion verb marks setting off or beginning a journey. Поехать is perfective for one departure; its imperfective counterpart is ехать.