🇷🇺 Russian grammar

Verb Conjugation in Russian: A Clear Guide

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 28, 2026

Verb conjugation in Russian is essential for expressing actions and states. It involves changing the verb form based on the subject's person and number. Understanding these patterns is crucial for effective communication.

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The rule

In Russian, verbs are conjugated according to the subject's person (first, second, third) and number (singular, plural). Regular verbs typically follow specific patterns based on their infinitive endings. For example, verbs ending in -ть often follow a predictable conjugation pattern in the present tense.

Verb Conjugation at a glance

PersonConjugation
1st person singularя говорю
2nd person singularты говоришь
3rd person singularон/она/оно говорит
1st person pluralмы говорим
2nd person pluralвы говорите
3rd person pluralони говорят

Present tense conjugation of the verb 'говорить' (to speak)

Examples you can say out loud

Я говорю по-русски. Ya govoryu po-russki.
I speak Russian.
Ты говоришь очень быстро. Ty govorish' ochen' bystro.
You speak very fast.
Он говорит с друзьями. On govorit s druz'yami.
He speaks with friends.
Мы говорим о книге. My govorim o knige.
We are talking about the book.
Они говорят на английском. Oni govoryat na angliyskom.
They speak in English.
Common mistake
Confusing the 2nd person singular with the 2nd person plural forms.
Tip
Practice conjugating regular verbs to become familiar with the patterns.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I know which conjugation pattern to use?

Identify the verb's infinitive ending and refer to regular conjugation patterns for that ending.