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Verb Aspect Foundations: Routines and Results
Practice choosing imperfective verbs for routines and ongoing actions and perfective verbs for one-off completed results.
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Browse Verb Aspect practiceQuestion 1
Каждое утро я ___ завтрак.
English context
I make breakfast every morning. Choose the correct form of готовить/приготовить.
Options
- готовлю
- приготовлю
- приготовил
- готовил
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- готовлю
Correct feedback
Correct. The repeated morning routine uses imperfective готовлю.
Grammar rule
Imperfective aspect describes habitual actions without presenting one completed result.
Question 2
Сегодня утром я быстро ___ завтрак.
English context
This morning I prepared breakfast quickly and finished it. Choose the correct form of готовить/приготовить.
Options
- приготовил
- готовил
- готовлю
- приготовлю
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- приготовил
Correct feedback
Correct. Приготовил presents one completed breakfast as a result.
Grammar rule
Perfective aspect presents a bounded action that reaches a result.
Question 3
Сейчас она ___ письмо другу.
English context
She is writing a letter right now. Choose the correct form of писать/написать.
Options
- пишет
- напишет
- написала
- писала
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- пишет
Correct feedback
Correct. Пишет describes an action in progress.
Grammar rule
The imperfective present describes an action currently in progress.
Question 4
Вчера он ___ письмо и отправил его.
English context
Yesterday he wrote the letter and sent it. Choose the correct form of писать/написать.
Options
- написал
- писал
- пишет
- напишет
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- написал
Correct feedback
Correct. Написал marks the completed letter before it was sent.
Grammar rule
Perfective verbs commonly link completed events in a sequence.
Question 5
По выходным мы ___ фильмы вместе.
English context
We watch films together on weekends as a regular activity. Choose the correct form of смотреть/посмотреть.
Options
- смотрим
- посмотрим
- посмотрели
- смотрели
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- смотрим
Correct feedback
Correct. A weekend routine uses imperfective смотрим.
Grammar rule
Repeated routines normally take the imperfective aspect.
Question 6
Вчера мы ___ новый фильм до конца.
English context
Yesterday we watched a new film all the way through. Choose the correct form of смотреть/посмотреть.
Options
- посмотрели
- смотрели
- смотрим
- посмотрим
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- посмотрели
Correct feedback
Correct. Посмотрели shows that the viewing was completed.
Grammar rule
A perfective verb highlights completion, especially with до конца.
Question 7
Я обычно ___ письма вечером.
English context
I usually read email in the evening. Choose the correct form of читать/прочитать.
Options
- читаю
- прочитаю
- прочитал
- читал
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- читаю
Correct feedback
Correct. Обычно marks a repeated habit: читаю.
Grammar rule
Imperfective aspect is used for regular habits and general patterns.
Question 8
Наконец я ___ на все письма.
English context
Finally I answered all the letters. Choose the correct form of отвечать/ответить.
Options
- ответил
- отвечал
- отвечаю
- отвечу
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- ответил
Correct feedback
Correct. Наконец signals the achieved result: ответил.
Grammar rule
Perfective aspect presents an action as reaching its endpoint.
Question 9
Не ___ дверь, пожалуйста.
English context
Please do not open the door; this is a general prohibition. Choose the correct form of открывать/открыть.
Options
- открывай
- открой
- открываешь
- откроешь
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- открывай
Correct feedback
Correct. The imperfective imperative gives a general prohibition.
Grammar rule
The imperfective imperative often expresses a general or continuing prohibition.
Question 10
Когда я ___ работу, я позвоню тебе.
English context
When I finish the work, I will call you. Choose the correct form of заканчивать/закончить.
Options
- закончу
- заканчиваю
- заканчивал
- закончила
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- закончу
Correct feedback
Correct. Закончу presents completion before the future call.
Grammar rule
A perfective verb in a future time clause can mark completion before another future action.