Past perfective form for future tense?

Всем привет!

I've noticed recently that when someone tells me they're going to go to sleep/work/etc., they use a past perfective verb: "Я пошёл/пошла спать" - and I haven't been able to find any information about this anywhere.

The only thing I can think of is that you use the past perfective in the future sense when you've already decided something is going to happen. So when one says "я пошёл/пошла спать", it's clear that you haven't gone yet (otherwise you would be typing in your sleep), what you actually mean is that the decision to go to sleep has been completed.

Is this a fair assumption and does anyone else have an insight into this?

Any help appreciated,
Mark

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Originally Posted by markhemstead

Is this a fair assumption and does anyone else have an insight into this?

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Yes, exactly. Also sometimes past perfective is used as imperative (when applied to the second person). That is the most rude way to tell someone to do something.

"Пошел вон!" = "Get lost!" means literally "(You) have gone out"

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The only thing I can think of is that you use the past perfective in the future sense when you've already decided something is going to happen.

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It can be used only with the verb "пойти".

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Originally Posted by Marcus

It can be used only with the verb "пойти".

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I'm not convinced about this, because i've seen others used: "Плакала моя головушка", "Плакали мои денежки", "Ну, всё мы погибли"

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Originally Posted by Marcus

It can be used only with the verb "пойти".

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At the very least, there could also be побежать, поехать, полететь, поплыть, and the same words with the prefix у-.


I am sure there was a similar thread recently.