Thread: Russian Verb Conjugation

Russian verb conjugation has my back up against a wall. I read every where that verb conjugation is "easy", and that russian has very few irregular verbs. Sure the endings seem to be pretty standard, but every verb I try to conjugate has a mutating stem, moving accents etc. There is also the part about verb aspects/verb tenses which I understand, but just stands to complicate matters more. Is there any logical way to tell if a verb is irregular, or is there a site on the internet that lists regular/irregular russian verbs? And does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about the order/process of learning russian verbal conjugation?

This claim that Russian verb conjugation is simple got on my nerves to start with too. Either my books claimed that there were only three regular conjugation patterns, which didn't actually tell me how to conjugate most verbs, or they broke these three patterns down into literally dozens of sub-patterns to the point where I couldn't keep all the rules in my head.

In the end I just stopped worrying about it and learned verbs as I came to them. At some point my brain started arranging the stem patterns and whatnot all on its own, so that now I can usually see the conjugations on new verbs instinctively, even if I can't explain what rule I am using to get there.

Get yourself a good comprehesive grammar (such as Wade's) and a copy of the Schaum's Russian Grammar workbook. The former has the best explanations I've read for the Russian verb system, the latter has lots and lots of practice excersises for all of the various stem patterns. Read Wades and then do the excersises in Schaums, and by the end of it you'll be mustard.

Originally Posted by scotcher

Get yourself a good comprehesive grammar (such as Wade's) and a copy of the Schaum's Russian Grammar workbook. The former has the best explanations I've read for the Russian verb system, the latter has lots and lots of practice excersises for all of the various stem patterns. Read Wades and then do the excersises in Schaums, and by the end of it you'll be mustard.

Hear hear!

Originally Posted by scotcher

Get yourself a good comprehesive grammar (such as Wade's) and a copy of the Schaum's Russian Grammar workbook. The former has the best explanations I've read for the Russian verb system, the latter has lots and lots of practice excersises for all of the various stem patterns. Read Wades and then do the excersises in Schaums, and by the end of it you'll be mustard.

Yeah, mustard! My thoughts precisely. Am wondering how on earth can a mere mortal ever hope to master the Russian language. Of course, I'm not talking about some especially gifted people or native Russian speakers.
It's almost 5 years now since I embarked on this journey, with many long breaks in between to keep my sanity, and I'm getting mushier than mustard. Nevertheless, I'm not giving up hope.

Originally Posted by Кристофер

Russian verb conjugation has my back up against a wall. I read every where that verb conjugation is "easy", and that russian has very few irregular verbs. Sure the endings seem to be pretty standard, but every verb I try to conjugate has a mutating stem, moving accents etc. There is also the part about verb aspects/verb tenses which I understand, but just stands to complicate matters more. Is there any logical way to tell if a verb is irregular, or is there a site on the internet that lists regular/irregular russian verbs? And does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about the order/process of learning russian verbal conjugation?

As you get better at Russian you will be able to spot irregulars more easily
. But often you can't. And I wouldn't bother worrying about stress for now either.

I found a copy of Schaum's Russian Grammar workbook at the public library here, and I reserved it, but there isn't a copy of Wade's available, and its a little steep in price on Amazon. Time to save some money. I think what is really getting me down is that I hit a wall with Russian that I never experienced with any other language(Spanish/Japanese). I'm just kind of stuck and I can't quite get over the hill.

Originally Posted by Кристофер

I found a copy of Schaum's Russian Grammar workbook at the public library here, and I reserved it, but there isn't a copy of Wade's available, and its a little steep in price on Amazon. Time to save some money. I think what is really getting me down is that I hit a wall with Russian that I never experienced with any other language(Spanish/Japanese). I'm just kind of stuck and I can't quite get over the hill.

Academic books are expensive, it's a fact of life.

Originally Posted by Кристофер

... I think what is really getting me down is that I hit a wall with Russian that I never experienced with any other language(Spanish/Japanese). I'm just kind of stuck and I can't quite get over the hill.

Do not worry about it. It's temporary and half-imaginary feeling. If you do not have a CD with your grammar book and want to hear how it sounds, I can record here Russian words and sentences from it. Just type them here.

Originally Posted by Lampada

Do not worry about it. It's temporary and half-imaginary feeling. If you do not have a CD with your grammar book and want to hear how it sounds, I can record here Russian words and sentences from it. Just type them here.

You are SUPER! We love you for that and all your contributions, especially the songs and lyrics section is really wonderful.