поддерживать vs поддержать

podderzhivat' vs podderzhat' — support/keep supporting vs support once

What it really means

Поддерживать is imperfective for ongoing, habitual, or sustained support: emotional encouragement, maintaining a level, or keeping something in place. Поддержать is perfective for one act of support, endorsement, or help. The object is usually accusative; a person supported in an opinion can be followed by в + prepositional.

Examples in natural speech

Друзья поддерживают меня в трудный период.
My friends support me during a difficult period.
Эта балка поддерживает крышу.
This beam supports the roof.
Поддержи меня на встрече.
Support me at the meeting.
Мы поддержали предложение коллеги.
We supported our colleague's proposal.
Важно поддерживать связь с семьёй.
It is important to maintain contact with one's family.

Common mistakes

Use поддержать for a single vote or intervention, but поддерживать for a continuing policy or relationship. Do not confuse поддержать с + instrumental (“support someone physically”) with поддержать кого-то в + prepositional (“support someone in a view/activity”).

Memory tip

Поддерживать keeps the hand under something; поддержать gives one decisive lift.

Frequently asked questions

Can поддерживать mean maintain rather than encourage?

Yes: поддерживать порядок, связь, температуру means keep order, contact, or a temperature at a level.

What does поддержать разговор mean?

It means keep a conversation going or contribute to it successfully; the perfective frames one successful contribution.

How do I say “I support your decision”?

Я поддерживаю твоё решение states an ongoing position; я поддержу твоё решение presents a decision to support it or a future act.

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