Compared to the complexity of the English verbal system, the Russian one is quite simple.
| PAST | I worked I did work I was working I had worked I had been working | Я работал |
| PRESENT | I work I do work I am working I have worked I habe been working | Я работаю |
| FUTURE | I will work I will be working I will have worked I will have been working I am going to work I am going to be working | Я буду работать |
Past tense verbs agree with their subjects (which are always in the nominative case) in gender or number. To form the past tense, take the infinitive работать, drop the ending -ть and add -л, -ла, -ло or -ли.
Он | Она | Оно | Они |
я работал | я работала | мы работали | |
ты работал | ты работала | вы работали | |
он работал | она работала | оно работало | они работали |
Present tense verbs agree with their subjects (which are always in the nominative case) in person and number. There are two conjugation patterns for the present tense. They differ only by the vowel which is used in the endings:
| First conjugation | Second conjugation |
|---|---|
| я работаю | я говорю |
| ты работаешь | ты говоришь |
| он работает | он говорит |
| она работает | она говорит |
| оно работает | оно говорит |
| мы работаем | мы говорим |
| вы работаете | вы говорите |
| они работают | они говорят |
There are two ways to form verbs in the future tense:
Using a "helping verb" plus the imperfective infinitive:
Conjugating a perfective infinitive:
The terms imperfective and perfective refer to the distinction between 2 verbs whose actual meaning is the same, but whose focus shifts from viewing the action as process (ongoing in the past, present or future) to viewing a "limit" having been reached (in the past or future; present is precluded). Sometimes this limit is an "end" (a result) and other times it is a "beginning". For a more complete explanation of this phenomenon, consult a Russian grammar.