Need the rule behind this exercise? Read Verbal adverbs. For the bigger picture, explore Russian grammar.
Gerunds: Verbal Adverbs 1
Practice the formation and use of Russian gerunds (деепричастия)
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Browse Verbs practiceQuestion 1
___ книгу, он заснул.
English context
Choose the correct present gerund form of 'читать'.
Options
- Читая
- Прочитав
- Читавши
- Читать
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- Читая
Correct feedback
Perfect! Present gerunds show simultaneous action and end in -я/-а.
Grammar rule
Present gerunds (-я/-а) express actions simultaneous with the main verb.
Question 2
___ домашнее задание, дети пошли гулять.
English context
Choose the correct past gerund form of 'сделать'.
Options
- Делая
- Сделав
- Сделавши
- Сделать
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- Сделав
Correct feedback
Excellent! Past gerunds show completed action before the main action.
Grammar rule
Past gerunds (-в/-вши) express completed actions preceding the main verb.
Question 3
___ по парку, мы встретили старого друга.
English context
Choose the correct gerund form of 'гулять'.
Options
- Гуляя
- Погуляв
- Гулявши
- Гулять
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- Гуляя
Correct feedback
Great! Ongoing background action uses present gerund.
Grammar rule
Background actions use present gerunds to show simultaneity.
Question 4
___ новость, она очень обрадовалась.
English context
Choose the correct gerund form of 'услышать'.
Options
- Слыша
- Услышав
- Услышавши
- Слышать
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- Услышав
Correct feedback
Perfect! Hearing the news happened before the reaction.
Grammar rule
Causal relationships use past gerunds for the preceding cause.
Question 5
Он работает, ___ песни.
English context
Choose the correct gerund form of 'напевать'.
Options
- напевая
- напев
- напевавши
- напевать
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- напевая
Correct feedback
Excellent! Simultaneous actions both ongoing use present gerunds.
Grammar rule
Simultaneous ongoing actions use present gerunds.
Question 6
___ ошибку, студент исправил её.
English context
Choose the correct gerund form of 'заметить'.
Options
- Замечая
- Заметив
- Заметивши
- Замечать
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- Заметив
Correct feedback
Great! Noticing the mistake happened before correcting it.
Grammar rule
Sequential actions use past gerunds for the first completed action.
Question 7
___ на экзамен, он волновался.
English context
Choose the correct gerund form of 'готовиться'.
Options
- Готовясь
- Подготовившись
- Готовившись
- Готовиться
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- Готовясь
Correct feedback
Perfect! Ongoing preparation while being nervous uses present gerund.
Grammar rule
Ongoing processes concurrent with main actions use present gerunds.
Question 8
___ письмо, она сразу ответила.
English context
Choose the correct gerund form of 'получить'.
Options
- Получая
- Получив
- Получивши
- Получать
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- Получив
Correct feedback
Excellent! Receiving happened before responding - past gerund needed.
Grammar rule
Cause-and-effect sequences use past gerunds for the initial cause.
Question 9
Дети играли во дворе, ___ и смеясь.
English context
Choose the correct gerund form of 'бегать'.
Options
- бегая
- пробежав
- бегавши
- бежать
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- бегая
Correct feedback
Great! Multiple simultaneous actions all use present gerunds.
Grammar rule
Multiple simultaneous ongoing actions all use present gerunds.
Question 10
___ документы, секретарь передала их директору.
English context
Choose the correct gerund form of 'подготовить'.
Options
- Подготавливая
- Подготовив
- Подготовивши
- Подготавливать
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- Подготовив
Correct feedback
Perfect! Document preparation was completed before transfer.
Grammar rule
Completed actions preceding main actions use past gerunds.