In English, the verb usually stays the same (except “he/she/it reads”). In Russian, the ending tells you who is doing the action. Take a look at the table below and notice how much the verb “to read” changes in Russian compared to English.
| Person | English | Russian |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary form | to read |
читать |
| 1st singular | I read |
я читаю |
| 2nd singular | you read |
ты читаешь |
| 3rd singular | he / she / it reads |
он / она / оно читает |
| 1st plural | we read |
мы читаем |
| 2nd plural / polite | you read |
вы читаете |
| 3rd plural | they read |
они читают |
Two groups of verbs
Russian verbs belong to two main conjugation groups. Each group has its own predictable set of endings in the present tense.
To determine the correct set of verb endings, we need to know which of the two groups the verb belongs to. Look at the ending of the dictionary form of the verb.
- If the ending is -ить, it is usually 2nd conjugation.
- Otherwise, it is usually 1st conjugation (the endings -ать, -ять, -еть, -оть, -уть, -ыть.)
| 1st conjugation | 2nd conjugation |
|---|---|
|
|
Two groups = two “ending sets”
Once you know the conjugation, you can choose the correct personal endings. Most verbs follow one of these patterns in the present tense:
| Person | 1st conjugation (-ать, -еть, -уть...) |
2nd conjugation (-ить) |
|---|---|---|
| я | -у / -ю | -у / -ю |
| ты | -ешь | -ишь |
| он / она / оно | -ет | -ит |
| мы | -ем | -им |
| вы | -ете | -ите |
| они | -ут / -ют | -ат / -ят |
Note: the exact letters can vary a little (у/ю, ут/ют, ат/ят) depending on the final consonant of the verb stem.
Verb Conjugation
Example: читать → 1st conjugation:
- я читаю
- ты читаешь
- он читает
- мы читаем
- вы читаете
- они читают
Example: говорить → 2nd conjugation:
- я говорю
- ты говоришь
- он говорит
- мы говорим
- вы говорите
- они говорят
A rhyme to practice endings
Read it slowly. Notice how each line “tags” the subject with a matching verb ending.
(Как мы любим Русский класс)
Practice: pick the correct form
Choose the correct present-tense form. Instant feedback shows ✅ or ❌. (If audio files don’t exist yet, the button will use browser TTS as a fallback.)
Notes: Verbs conjugate, Nouns decline. Change the ending, And you’ll be fine. Same word, new ending, Every time. Learn the pattern And make it fun.