Re: Aspect of the infinitive
Quote:
Originally Posted by JackBoni
Здравствуйте
I was wondering recently what the differences between the aspects are when used in the infinitive. I mean, whenever I use an inifinitive in Russian, I seem to either use the "wrong" one, or if I choose the right one, I won't be able to explain why it's right. There are probably differences in meaning, but what would they generally be?
Eg:
Я хочу работать/поработать.
Он хочет писать/написать письмо
Sorry if these examples don't suit the context of the question.
Спасибо большое за вашу помощь
Джек
Я хочу работать. - I want to work.
Probably, I do not have a job and I want to find it.
Another possibility: your boss doubts whether you are a good employee to leave you at his company, or maybe he should fire you. And he asks:
- Ты хочешь работать?
- Да. Я хочу работать.
Я хочу поработать. - I want to work for a while.
You has been resting for a few hours, and now you think you are ready to do a little work, and then rest again.
поработать - "to work for a while" (limited in time, usually shortly)
Он хочет писать письмо Sounds a bit unnaturally. You will see why later:
Он хочет писать письма. - He wants to write letters
He wants to write regularly, every day, or every month, unlimited in time.
Он хочет написать письмо
He wants to write one letter. (To write it completely, a whole letter).
Он хочет написать письма
He wants to write several letters. (He knows the quantity. He is going to write them (completely) at once, e.g. tonight.