ставить vs поставить

stavit vs postavit — put/set repeatedly or in progress vs put/set once

What it really means

Ста́вить is imperfective and means to put, set, or position something as an ongoing, repeated, or general action: "Я ставлю чашку на стол" (I am putting the cup on the table). Поставить is perfective and presents one placement as complete: "Поставь чашку на стол" (Put the cup on the table).

The same pair is used for setting alarms, putting objects somewhere, and arranging people or things in a position. The perfective prefix по- focuses on the result of the placement. For hanging or laying something flat, Russian uses other verb pairs such as вешать/повесить and класть/положить.

Examples in natural speech

Я ставлю чайник на плиту.
I am putting the kettle on the stove.
Она ставит будильник на семь утра.
She sets the alarm for seven.
Поставь тарелки на стол.
Put the plates on the table.
Он поставил машину у дома.
He parked the car by the house.
Каждый вечер я ставлю телефон на зарядку.
Every evening I put my phone on charge.
Я поставлю музыку.
I will put on some music.

Common mistakes

Do not use поставить for a repeated routine without making the one-time result clear: "Каждый вечер я ставлю будильник" is natural. Do not use ставить for every English "put"; flat objects often use класть, and hanging objects use вешать.

Memory tip

Ставить is setting or placing as a process/routine; поставить is one completed placement or setup.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ставить and поставить in Russian?

Ставить is imperfective for putting or setting something repeatedly, generally, or in progress. Поставить is perfective for one completed placement or setup.

How do you say set an alarm in Russian?

Use "поставить будильник" for setting it once: "Я поставил будильник на семь." Use "ставить" for a repeated routine: "Я ставлю будильник каждый вечер."

Is ставить the same as класть?

Both can translate as put, but ставить is used for upright objects, vehicles, alarms, and settings, while класть is used for laying or placing something flat or into a position. Russian chooses based on the object and position.

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