Thread: плакает vs. плачет

What's the difference?

My dictionary does not show any difference.

Originally Posted by Russkie

What's the difference?

My dictionary does not show any difference.

плакать is the infinitive "to cry".

плачет is the third person singular conjugation, eg "he/she/it cries".

See this:

http://www.du.edu/langlit/russian/verbs.htm

I don't understand.

how is " он плакает " wrong?

Originally Posted by Russkie

I don't understand.

how is " он плакает " wrong?

For the same reason that "bringed" is wrong and "brought" is correct. Some verb forms just have to be memorized.

Originally Posted by Russkie

I don't understand.

how is " он плакает " wrong?

плачет.

And the infinitive from this word is плакать
плакает - there's no such word.

Плакать is an -а, not an -ай stem 1st conjugation verb. Thus, normal consonant mutation operates and the wussy little -a disappears. Cf. писать/пишет