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Russian verbal aspect is even more confusing than you think!

Original post in Russian - check Глазарий языка

сдать (p) - сдавать (imp), to take, to pass exam. Я не сдавал — I didn’t show up (didn’t take it) Я не сдал — I didn’t pass.

переплыть (p) - переплывать (imp) (to swim across) Речку переплыть нельзя — It is impossible to cross this river. Речку переплывать нельзя — No crissing the river! (prohibited)

взять (p) - брать (imp) - to take. Кто взял мою ручку? — Who took my pen? (I lost my pen, I can’t find my pen) Кто брал мою ручку? — Who has taken my pen (and brought it back, the pen is here, but somebody borrowed it for some time)

прийти (p) - приходить (imp) - to come to visit/ to see К тебе пришли гости — You have guests (and the guests are still here). К тебе приходили гости — You have had guests (and they’ve gone, they are not here anymore)

закрыть (p)- закрывать (imp) - to close/ to lock Не закрывай на ночь дверь — Don’t close the door at night (just don’t close it). Не закрой на ночь дверь — I know you want to close the door, or it is very likely that you are going to close the door, but please don’t!

прочитать (p) - читать (imp) Читали статью? — Did you read this article? (General question) Прочитали статью? — Have you read the article? (you are expected to, we’ve agreed about it)

помыть (p) - мыть (imp) А кто пол помыл? — Who did the floor? (good job!) А кто пол мыл? — Who did the floor? (Bad job! Horrible! It is still dirty!)

Выключить (p) - выключать (imp) - to turn off Я не выключил телевизор — I forgot to turn off the TV (but I had to turn it off!). Я не выключал телевизор — I didn’t turn the TV off (and I didn’t even think of it! It wasn’t me!)