продолжать vs продолжаться
prodolzhat' vs prodolzhat'sya — continue something vs continue/last
Register: neutral
What it really means
Продолжать takes an object or infinitive: continue a conversation, continue working. Продолжаться is intransitive: an event, rain, or period continues or lasts. The reflexive form focuses on the process itself, not its agent.
Examples in natural speech
Продолжайте читать.
Continue reading.
Она продолжила разговор.
She continued the conversation.
Дождь продолжается.
The rain continues.
Встреча продолжалась час.
The meeting lasted an hour.
Фильм продолжается.
The film is continuing.
Common mistakes
Do not give продолжаться a direct object: встреча продолжается, but мы продолжаем встречу.
Memory tip
Someone продолжает something; an event продолжается.
Frequently asked questions
How do I say continue working?
Продолжать работать.
How do I say the meeting continues?
Встреча продолжается.
What is the perfective?
Продолжить; for an event, продолжиться is possible but less common.
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