продолжать vs продолжить

prodolzhat vs prodolzhit — continue as a process vs continue/start the next stage

What it really means

Продолжать is imperfective: continue doing something, be continuing, or do it repeatedly. Продолжить is perfective: carry something on as one completed decision or move into the next stage. Both can take an infinitive or a direct object.

Use продолжать for the activity itself and продолжить when the act of resuming or carrying on is treated as a single event.

Examples in natural speech

Он продолжает работать.
He continues to work.
Мы продолжали разговор до ночи.
We continued the conversation until night.
Давайте продолжим завтра.
Let's continue tomorrow.
Она продолжила читать книгу.
She continued reading the book.
Продолжайте, я слушаю.
Please continue, I am listening.

Common mistakes

Do not use продолжить for an activity simply in progress: “Он продолжает читать” is correct. Продолжить is especially natural for “continue/resume this now” or a completed continuation.

Memory tip

Продолжать is the continuing line; продолжить marks the step that carries it forward.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between продолжать and продолжить?

Продолжать focuses on ongoing or repeated continuation. Продолжить focuses on one act of continuing or resuming.

How do you say let us continue?

Say “Давайте продолжим.” The perfective form suits a proposal to move on now.

Can these verbs take an infinitive?

Yes: продолжать работать and продолжить работать both mean continue working, with the usual aspect difference.

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