Understanding Aspectual Pairs in Russian

Aspectual pairs in Russian show small differences in how we use words. Let’s explore the verbs "звонить" (to call, imperfective) and "позвонить" (to call, perfective) to make this clearer.

1. Звонить (imperfective):

   • This verb means doing something over time or regularly.
   • Example: Я люблю звонить бабушке каждую неделю.
     (I like to call my grandmother every week.)

2. Позвонить (perfective):

   • This verb means doing something just once or that it is done.
   • Example: Я позвоню тебе завтра.
     (I will call you tomorrow.)

Key Differences:

• Use "звонить" when talking about routines or actions that take time.
• Use "позвонить" for actions that are specific or finished.

As you practice, try to notice these differences.

It will help you understand how to use these words better!