подписывать vs подписать
podpisyvat vs podpisat — sign regularly/in progress vs sign once
Register: neutral
What it really means
Подпи́сывать is imperfective for signing as a process or repeated task. Подписа́ть is perfective for putting a signature on one document or concluding one agreement by signing it. Подписаться, with -ся, means subscribe or sign up.
Examples in natural speech
Директор подписывает документы каждое утро.
The director signs documents every morning.
Я подписываю открытку.
I am signing a card.
Подпишите здесь, пожалуйста.
Please sign here.
Они подписали договор.
They signed the contract.
Я подписался на этот канал.
I subscribed to this channel.
Common mistakes
Keep подписать and подписаться separate. Подписать договор means sign a contract; подписаться на канал means subscribe to a channel.
Memory tip
Подписать puts one signature below a document; -ся changes it to subscribe.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say sign here?
Use Подпишите здесь, пожалуйста. This asks for one completed signature.
What does подписаться mean?
Подписаться means subscribe or sign up, usually with на + accusative.
What is the difference between подписывать and подписать?
Подписывать describes signing in progress or regularly; подписать is one completed signature.
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