Russian Verb: Быть (To Be)
Written byAlina Sinitcyna
Russian people use the verb “to be” in future and past tenses, but present tense only for specific situations. They use a dash instead of the present tense form of the verb “to be” to make sentences.
For example:
Моя мать - врач
My mother is a doctor
However, past and future tenses have to be conjugated as it is shown in the following table.
Russian verb Быть (to be) conjugation
| Imperfective Aspect | Perfective Aspect | |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | Быть | Побыть |
| Present Tense | ||
| 1st Person Singular | есть | |
| 2nd Person Singular | есть | |
| 3rd Person Singular | есть | |
| 1st Person Plural | есть | |
| 2nd Person Plural | есть | |
| 3rd Person Plural | есть | |
| Past Tense | ||
| Masculine | Был | Побыл |
| Feminine | Была | Побыла |
| Neuter | Было | Побыло |
| Plural | Были | Побыли |
| Future Tense | ||
| 1st Person Singular | Буду | Побуду |
| 2nd Person Singular | Будешь | Побудешь |
| 3rd Person Singular | Будет | Побудет |
| 1st Person Plural | Будем | Побудем |
| 2nd Person Plural | Будете | Побудете |
| 3rd Person Plural | Будут | Побудут |
| Command Form | ||
| Informal | Будь | Побудь |
| Formal | Будьте | Побудьте |
| Subjunctive Mood | ||
| Masculine | был бы | побыл бы |
| Feminine | была бы | побыла бы |
| Neuter | было бы | побыло бы |
| Plural | были бы | побыли бы |
| Derivatives | ||
| Present Active Participle | сущий | |
| Past Active Participle | бывший | побывший |
| Verbal Adverb (Gerund) | будучи | побыв |
Sample sentences
Я часто бываю в Москве.
I am often in Moscow.
Собаки Был вместе с их хвосты между ног.
The dogs were running along with their tails between their legs.
Они будут в России в следующем месяце.
They will be in Russia the next month.
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