Thread: Russian Aspects

Hi guys, I've created this thread to ask some questions about aspects. I'm studying russian through Penguin Textbook and also using Pimsleur to help.
I found something strange: In Pimsleur, when I want to say that I want to drink something they use
я хочу пить что-нибудь
Well, пить is imperfective right? So, the same Pimsleur use repeatedly я хочу поесть, which is perfective.
Also, Penguin said in chapter 12 that хотеть is generally used with perfective to express to want to do something. In addition, it uses as an example:
я хочу пить = I'm thirsty
я хочу выпить = I want to drink (alcohol)
So I'm lost. I shall use выпить or пить ?

Я хочу есть - I am hungry.
Я хочу пить - I am thirsty.
Thуыу two are set expressions.

Я хочу поесть - I am going to [make a breake for] eat something.

"я хочу пить что-нибудь". While I can imagine a context where this one can be corrrect, in most cases it should be "я хочу выпить/попить чего-нибудь".

Originally Posted by Yoda

Also, Penguin said in chapter 12 that хотеть is generally used with perfective to express to want to do something. In addition, it uses as an example:
я хочу пить = I'm thirsty
я хочу выпить = I want to drink (alcohol)
So I'm lost. I shall use выпить or пить ?

Хотеть пить and хотеть выпить (when used without an object) are fixed expressions that mean, respectively, "to be thirsty" and "to want to drink alcohol". You should just remember them as is.

What about perfective/imperfective after хотеть in general, perfective means that you have intention of doing something. The emphasis is on "doing".
And imperfective means that you talk about your "internal state of wanting/wishing". The emphasis is on "wanting".
For example:
Я хочу полететь в Москву. = I want to fly to Moscow. = I want to travel to Moscow by plane.
Я хочу летать. = I wish (to be able) to fly.
Я хочу выпить чашку чая. = I want to drink a cup of tea.
Я хочу пить. = I wish to drink. = I'm thirsty.

I think, хотеть + imperfective is primarily used with verbs пить, есть, кушать, спать, гулять in the speech of adults. That construction is more common in the speech of children.

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Originally Posted by Полуношник

Thуыу

Классное слово!
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Originally Posted by Soft sign

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Классное слово!
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Ну, пальцы заплелись...

Maybe this site will clear things up...
Verbal Aspect (introduction). Meaning of Aspect. Aspect and Tense. Future Tense: Imperfective and Perfective Future. Aspectual Pairs

"Не хочу учиться, хочу жениться" (imperfect/perfect)