In Russian, verbs can show two different "aspects": imperfective and perfective. Knowing these two is really important because they help us understand how actions work over time.

Imperfective Aspect

• Form: "я читаю книгу" (I read a book/ I am reading a book).
• Usage: We use this aspect for actions that are ongoing or happen a lot.
• Example: "Я читаю книгу каждый день." (I read a book every day.)

Perfective Aspect

• Form: "я прочитал книгу" (I read a book/ I have finished reading).
• Usage: This shows that an action is completed or done.
• Example: "Я прочитал книгу вчера." (I read the book yesterday.)

Summary

• Use imperfective for habits or actions that are still going on.
• Use perfective when you want to say that something is finished.

By understanding these two types, we can explain when and how things happen more clearly.