продолжаться vs продолжиться

prodolzhát'sya vs prodolzhít'sya — continue/be ongoing vs continue after a point

What it really means

Продолжаться describes something that is ongoing. Продолжиться is perfective: something will continue or resume beyond a stated point, and is especially common in news or formal style.

Examples in natural speech

Встреча продолжается.
The meeting is continuing.
Разговор продолжится завтра.
The conversation will continue tomorrow.
Дождь продолжался всю ночь.
The rain continued all night.
Ремонт продолжится летом.
The repairs will continue in summer.
Фильм продолжается два часа.
The film lasts two hours.

Common mistakes

Do not use продолжится for an event already in progress at the moment of speaking: Встреча продолжается reports its current duration. Продолжится looks ahead to continuation or resumption after a boundary, often tomorrow or after a break.

Memory tip

Imagine продолжится crossing a finish line on a calendar: it carries the action beyond “tomorrow,” “after the break,” or another stated point.

Frequently asked questions

Why is «разговор продолжится завтра» perfective?

Tomorrow marks the next stage after a boundary, probably a pause. The perfective presents the continuation beyond that point as one future development.

Can продолжаться describe duration?

Yes. Дождь продолжался всю ночь and фильм продолжается два часа describe an activity or event extending through a period.

Is продолжиться common in everyday speech?

It is correct but especially frequent in news, schedules, and formal announcements. In casual speech speakers may rephrase with мы продолжим or будем продолжать.

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