The core two-stem system
Recognise paired unidirectional/determinate and multidirectional/indeterminate motion verbs.
Russian motion verbs commonly contrast pairs such as идти/ходить and ехать/ездить. The labels are useful but describe more than literal direction count.
- Pairs are lexical and must be learned together.
- The contrast interacts with viewpoint, habit, ability, and completed visits.
- Start unprefixed before adding prefix paths.
| Unidirectional / determinate | Multidirectional / indeterminate | |
|---|---|---|
| On foot | идти | ходить |
| By transport | ехать | ездить |
| Swimming | плыть | плавать |
| Flying | лететь | летать |
| Carrying | нести / вести / везти | носить / водить / возить |
Mini-check