Lesson 15 of 24

Motion Verbs II: The Prefix System

Eleven prefixes and two verbs, and you can arrive, leave, enter, come out, reach, drop in, pass, cross, approach and step away — on foot or by vehicle. This lesson builds the whole prefixed motion system of Russian, gives you the surprising past that comes with it, and teaches you how to ask for and follow a route.

⏱ About 55 minutes 24 phrases 34 exercises

A house labelled «Дом приставок — motion prefixes» whose ten rooms hold the prefixed motion verbs «при- приходить», «у- уходить», «в- входить», «вы- выходить», «до- доходить», «за- заходить», «про- проходить», «пере- переходить», «под- подходить» and «от- отходить», with a walker tracing the route in and out.

What you will learn

Read a prefixed motion verb you have never met by splitting it into prefix and base, and say what it means before you look it up
Build the future of any prefixed motion verb as one word — приду́, прие́дешь, дойдёт, дое́дем — and explain why there is no бу́ду in it
Produce the past of the идти́ family from its second stem: пришёл, пришла́, пришло́, пришли́, plus the one exception that вы- creates
Match each prefix to the preposition and case it brings with it: войти́ в + accusative, вы́йти из + genitive, дойти́ до + genitive, подойти́ к + dative, отойти́ от + genitive
Ask how to get somewhere on foot and by transport, and follow a five-step route given to you by a stranger
Use the five direction prepositions ми́мо, че́рез, вдоль, вокру́г and поперёк with the case each one wants, and name the five things a route is made of

Quick review

Say these aloud before you start. They come from earlier lessons.

Я иду́ в парк. I am walking to the park. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я иду́ в парк.
Она́ е́дет на метро́. She is going by metro. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Она́ е́дет на метро́.
Пойдём в кино́! Let us go to the cinema! Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Пойдём в кино́!
Когда́ я приду́, я позвоню́. When I come, I will ring. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Когда́ я приду́, я позвоню́.
Пря́мо и нале́во. Straight ahead and to the left. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Пря́мо и нале́во.
До вокза́ла. As far as the station. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: До вокза́ла.

Theory

One prefix, one meaning — and it works on both verbs

Lesson 7 gave you two verbs and one question: are you going on your own two feet, or are you inside a vehicle? That question does not change today. Everything new in this lesson is a prefix, and a prefix does not care which verb it lands on. Put при- in front of идти́ and you get "arrive on foot"; put the same при- in front of е́хать and you get "arrive by vehicle". The prefix carries the direction, the base carries the means, and nothing else moves.

That is the whole system, and it is why this lesson is far less frightening than its reputation suggests. There are eleven prefixes here and each one has a single core meaning, so eleven meanings give you twenty-odd verbs rather than twenty-odd separate things to memorise. Come at it from the prefix column, never from the verb list.

One more thing follows automatically. Every one of these verbs is perfective, and that is no coincidence: a prefix that adds a limit — arrive, reach, cross, leave — is precisely what turns an unfinished action into a finished one. Lesson 13 showed you the deal, and Lesson 14 showed you what it does to the future.

Я приду́ за́втра. I will come tomorrow (on foot). Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я приду́ за́втра.
Я прие́ду за́втра. I will arrive tomorrow (by vehicle). Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я прие́ду за́втра.
Он ушёл. He has left (on foot). Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Он ушёл.
Она́ уе́хала. She has left (by vehicle). Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Она́ уе́хала.

The future is one word — and the past is a different verb

Because they are perfective, none of these verbs has a present tense at all. Приду́ has exactly the shape of a present and is a future. To say what is happening right now you go back to the unprefixed verbs of Lesson 7 — я иду́, я е́ду — or to the imperfective partner, я прихожу́. The future, on the other hand, costs you nothing: it is simply the conjugation, приду́, придёшь, придёт, придём, придёте, приду́т.

The past of the идти́ family is where Russian genuinely surprises you, and it is worth meeting the surprise head-on. It is not built on the same stem as anything else in the verb. идти́ in the past is шёл, шла, шло, шли, and every prefix simply sits on top of those four forms: пришёл, ушёл, вошёл, дошёл, зашёл, прошёл, перешёл, подошёл, отошёл. Learn four words and eleven verbs come free.

The е́хать family is boring by comparison, and you should enjoy that. It adds -л to the infinitive stem like any regular verb: прие́хал, прие́хала, прие́хало, прие́хали. It also keeps its stress in one place throughout — on the root vowel of -ех- and -ед- — so прие́ду, уе́ду, дое́ду and подъе́ду all rhyme with each other. The one irregularity in the whole family is the imperative, and it is the same for all seven verbs: поезжа́йте.

There is a single exception to every rule above, and it is a useful one to know. The prefix вы- pulls the stress onto itself wherever it appears, in every form, without exception: вы́йти gives вы́йду, вы́йдешь, вы́шел, вы́шла. Because that stress is no longer on the ending, the ending is written е and not ё.

Он пришёл. He arrived (on foot). Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Он пришёл.
Она́ пришла́. She arrived (on foot). Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Она́ пришла́.
Они́ прие́хали. They arrived (by vehicle). Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Они́ прие́хали.
Мы вы́йдем здесь. We will get off here. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мы вы́йдем здесь.

What each prefix means, and the case it brings with it

The eleven prefixes fall into three groups. The first is arrival and departure: при- "arrive" and у- "leave". They are exact opposites, and each one brings its own preposition — прийти́ wants в or на with the accusative, уйти́ wants из with the genitive. You met both cases in Lessons 5, 6 and 8, so nothing new arrives here except the verbs themselves.

The second group is in and out, up and away: в- "into", вы- "out of", под- "up to", от- "back, away from". Notice that the preposition is hiding inside the prefix, and that the preposition tells you the case. войти́ в + accusative; вы́йти из + genitive; подойти́ к + dative, the к of Lesson 9; отойти́ от + genitive, the от of Lesson 8. Learn the verb with its preposition glued on and the ending writes itself.

The third group is about the path itself. до- is "as far as" and takes до + genitive. за- is the one English speakers most often get wrong: it is not "into" but "in passing, for a short call", so зайти́ means to drop by, with к + dative for a person and в + accusative for a place. про- is "past, through" — пройти́ ми́мо + genitive, or че́рез + accusative. And пере- is "across": перейти́ че́рез + accusative.

Войди́те в магази́н. Come into the shop. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Войди́те в магази́н.
Вы́йдите из магази́на. Come out of the shop. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Вы́йдите из магази́на.
Дойди́те до остано́вки. Walk as far as the stop. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Дойди́те до остано́вки.
Зайди́те к нам. Drop in and see us. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Зайди́те к нам.

Asking the way, and understanding the answer

Two questions cover almost everything you will ever need. On foot it is Как пройти́ в музе́й? or Как дойти́ до остано́вки? By vehicle it is Как дое́хать до вокза́ла? The grammar is the same in both: как plus a perfective infinitive. Pick the wrong base and a Russian will still understand you perfectly, but the answer will come back in the wrong mode and you will find yourself walking to a station you should have taken a bus to.

The answer is a chain of short imperatives, and this is where the lesson pays for itself. Иди́те пря́мо. На перекрёстке поворо́т напра́во. Пройди́те ми́мо па́рка. Перейди́те че́рез у́лицу. Directions to a single stranger use the plural -те form even between people who would otherwise be on ты, because you are addressing someone you do not know.

Five nouns carry the rest of the route, and they are worth learning with the preposition they most often appear in: на перекрёстке (at the crossing), у светофо́ра (by the traffic lights), до остано́вки (as far as the stop), по перехо́ду (by the crossing), поворо́т напра́во (a turn to the right). All four prepositions in that list — на, у, до and по — are ones you already have.

Как пройти́ в музе́й? How do I get to the museum on foot? Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Как пройти́ в музе́й?
Как дое́хать до вокза́ла? How do I get to the station by transport? Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Как дое́хать до вокза́ла?
Иди́те пря́мо до перекрёстка. Go straight ahead as far as the crossing. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Иди́те пря́мо до перекрёстка.
Авто́бус подъе́хал к светофо́ру. The bus pulled up at the traffic lights. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Авто́бус подъе́хал к светофо́ру.

This is A2 material, and it is here on purpose

A word about level, because this course has promised not to oversell you. The A1 standard for Russian as a foreign language expects four motion verbs — идти́, ходи́ть, е́хать, е́здить — and exactly two prefixes, по- and при-. You already have both of those from Lesson 7. Everything else on this page is A2, and the official guidance is explicit that the rest of the prefix system belongs beyond the elementary level.

We teach it here anyway, for two reasons. The first is practical: you cannot ask for directions in a Russian city without пройти́, дойти́ and перейти́, and a course that stops at прийти́ leaves you unable to hold the one conversation you most need. The second is structural: the prefix system is far more regular than its reputation, and once Lessons 13 and 14 have installed aspect and the perfective future, the marginal cost of twenty more verbs is genuinely small.

What that means in practice is that you should not try to memorise twenty-two verbs tonight. Memorise eleven prefix meanings and two stems, and build the verb when you need it. The imperfective partners follow the same rule: take the multidirectional base — ходи́ть or е́здить — and put the same prefix on it: уходи́ть, вы́ходить, входи́ть, доходи́ть, заходи́ть, проходи́ть, переходи́ть, подходи́ть and отходи́ть on foot; приезжа́ть, уезжа́ть, доезжа́ть, заезжа́ть, переезжа́ть and подъезжа́ть by vehicle. Same prefix, same meaning, no single-trip limit. One of them, приходи́ть, is in the word list below; the rest you can now form whenever you need them.

Я ухожу́ сейча́с. I am leaving now. (уходи́ть, the imperfective partner of уйти́) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я ухожу́ сейча́с.
Авто́бус уезжа́ет. The bus is leaving. (уезжа́ть, the imperfective partner of уе́хать) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Авто́бус уезжа́ет.
Она́ прихо́дит ве́чером. She comes in the evening. (приходи́ть, the imperfective partner of прийти́) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Она́ прихо́дит ве́чером.
Мы захо́дим в магази́н. We drop into the shop as a rule. (заходи́ть, the imperfective partner of зайти́) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мы захо́дим в магази́н.

The prefix × base matrix: eleven prefixes, two verbs

Form	prefix	идти́ — on foot	е́хать — by vehicle
to set off, to start going	по-	пойти́	пое́хать
to arrive	при-	прийти́	прие́хать
to leave, to go away	у-	уйти́	уе́хать
to come in, to enter	в-	войти́	—
to come out; to get off	вы-	вы́йти	—
to reach, to get as far as	до-	дойти́	дое́хать
to drop in on the way	за-	зайти́	зае́хать
to pass, to go past, to go through	про-	пройти́	—
to cross; to move house	пере-	перейти́	перее́хать
to come up to, to pull up	под-	подойти́	подъе́хать
to step back, to move away	от-	отойти́	—

Eleven meanings, not twenty-two verbs. The prefix carries the direction, the base carries the means, and the means question of Lesson 7 — on foot or by vehicle? — never changes its answer here. по- and при- are the only two prefixes the A1 standard asks for; everything else on this page is A2. The dashes mark prefixes whose vehicle partner exists but sits outside the core set: въе́хать and вы́ехать (in and out by vehicle), объе́хать (round) and прое́хать (past) are all real verbs built on exactly the same stem. Read the table down the prefix column, not across it.

The directions kit: what each word governs

Form	meaning	what it governs	in a route
напра́во	to the right	adverb — no case	Пото́м напра́во.
нале́во	to the left	adverb — no case	Пото́м нале́во.
пря́мо	straight ahead	adverb — no case	Иди́те пря́мо.
наза́д	back, backwards	adverb — no case	Не иди́те наза́д.
ми́мо	past, by	genitive	Пройди́те ми́мо па́рка.
че́рез	across, over; through	accusative	Перейди́те че́рез у́лицу.
вдоль	along	genitive	Иди́те вдоль у́лицы.
вокру́г	around	genitive	Авто́бус е́дет вокру́г го́рода.
поперёк	across the width of	genitive	У́лица идёт поперёк го́рода.

The first four are adverbs and take nothing after them; the last five are prepositions, and each one fixes the case of the noun that follows. Note the two senses of "across": че́рез + accusative is the thing you cross, поперёк + genitive is the width you cut. напра́во, нале́во and пря́мо are the three you already have from Lesson 7.

Perfective motion in the future — and the past that changes stem

Form	прийти́ (on foot)	прие́хать (by vehicle)
future — я	приду́	прие́ду
future — ты	придёшь	прие́дешь
future — он / она́ / оно́	придёт	прие́дет
future — мы	придём	прие́дем
future — вы	придёте	прие́дете
future — они́	приду́т	прие́дут
past — он	пришёл	прие́хал
past — она́	пришла́	прие́хала
past — оно́	пришло́	прие́хало
past — они́	пришли́	прие́хали

Read the two columns against each other and the whole lesson is in one table. Both verbs are perfective, so neither has a present tense: the six "future" forms look like presents and are not. Both build the past with -л. But the come-on-foot column swaps stems to do it — идти́ becomes шёл — while the come-by-vehicle column simply adds -л to -еха-. Learn пришёл, пришла́, пришло́, пришли́ once and every other prefix inherits them: ушёл, вошёл, дошёл, зашёл, прошёл, перешёл, подошёл, отошёл. The single exception is вы-, which takes the stress with it and writes е instead of ё: вы́шел, вы́шла.

The route: five moves, on foot and by vehicle

Form	on foot — the идти́ family	by vehicle — the е́хать family
Asking the way	Как пройти́ в музе́й?	Как дое́хать до рестора́на?
Setting off	Иди́те пря́мо.	Поезжа́йте пря́мо.
Getting as far as a point	Вы дойдёте до перекрёстка.	Вы дое́дете до остано́вки.
Dropping in on the way	Я зайду́ в магази́н.	Мы зае́дем в магази́н.
Arriving	Вы пришли́.	Вы прие́хали.

The same five moves with a different base, and nothing else changes. Row three is the perfective future of Lesson 14 doing ordinary work: one word, no бу́ду, and the listener hears a completed arrival rather than a journey in progress. Row two is the imperative — but note that the vehicle column cannot use *пое́дь: Russian builds that imperative from an older verb entirely, giving поезжа́йте.

Vocabulary

Learn each word with its stress mark and its pronunciation. Nouns are given with their gender, animacy and their full six-case declension; verbs are given with their aspect and, where one exists, their partner verb.

Russian	English	Gender / aspect	Pronunciation	Audio
приходи́ть imperfective	to come, to arrive (on foot) — as a habit or a process	imperfective Aspect partner: прийти́	/prʲɪxɐˈdʲitʲ/ prih-khuh-DEET	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: приходить
уйти́ perfective	to leave, to go away (on foot)	perfective	/ʊjˈtʲi/ uy-TEE	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: уйти
вы́йти perfective	to come out, to exit; to get off (a vehicle)	perfective	/ˈvɨjtʲɪ/ VIY-tih	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: выйти
войти́ perfective	to come in, to enter	perfective	/vɐjˈtʲi/ vuy-TEE	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: войти
дойти́ perfective	to reach, to walk as far as	perfective	/dɐjˈtʲi/ duy-TEE	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: дойти
зайти́ perfective	to drop in, to call round (on foot)	perfective	/zɐjˈtʲi/ zuy-TEE	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: зайти
пройти́ perfective	to pass, to go past, to walk through	perfective	/prɐjˈtʲi/ pruy-TEE	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: пройти
перейти́ perfective	to cross, to go over	perfective	/pʲɪrʲɪjˈtʲi/ pih-riy-TEE	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: перейти
подойти́ perfective	to come up to, to approach	perfective	/pədɐjˈtʲi/ puh-duy-TEE	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: подойти
отойти́ perfective	to step back, to move away	perfective	/ɐtɐjˈtʲi/ uh-tuy-TEE	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: отойти
пое́хать perfective	to set off, to go (by vehicle)	perfective Aspect partner: е́хать	/pɐˈjexətʲ/ puh-YEH-khyut	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: поехать
прие́хать perfective	to arrive (by vehicle)	perfective	/prʲɪˈjexətʲ/ prih-YEH-khyut	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: приехать
уе́хать perfective	to leave, to go away (by vehicle)	perfective	/ˈujexətʲ/ oo-YEH-khyut	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: уехать
дое́хать perfective	to get as far as (by vehicle)	perfective	/dɐˈjexətʲ/ duh-YEH-khyut	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: доехать
зае́хать perfective	to drop in (by vehicle); to call for	perfective	/ˈzajexətʲ/ zuh-YEH-khyut	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: заехать
перее́хать perfective	to move house; to drive across	perfective	/pʲɪrʲɪˈjexətʲ/ pih-rih-YEH-khyut	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: переехать
подъе́хать perfective	to drive up to, to pull up	perfective	/pədˈjexətʲ/ pud-YEH-khyut	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: подъехать
поворо́т masculine · inanimate	turn, corner	masculine · inanimate	/pəvɐˈrot/ puh-vuh-ROHT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: поворот
перекрёсток masculine · inanimate	crossroads, crossing, intersection	masculine · inanimate	/pʲɪrʲɪˈkrʲɵstkə/ pih-rih-KRYOH-stuk	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: перекрёсток
светофо́р masculine · inanimate	traffic light	masculine · inanimate	/svʲɪtɐˈfor/ svih-tuh-FOHR	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: светофор
перехо́д masculine · inanimate	crossing; the act of crossing	masculine · inanimate	/pʲɪrʲɪˈxot/ pih-rih-KHOHT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: переход
остано́вка feminine · inanimate	stop (bus, tram, trolleybus)	feminine · inanimate	/ɐstɐˈnofkə/ uh-stuh-NOH-fkuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: остановка
ми́мо Preposition	past, by (with the genitive)	Preposition	/ˈmʲimə/ MEE-muh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: мимо
че́рез Preposition	across, over; through	Preposition	/ˈtɕerʲɪs/ CHEH-ris	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: через
вокру́г Preposition	around, round about	Preposition	/vɐˈkruk/ vuh-KROOKH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: вокруг
вдоль Preposition	along	Preposition	/vdoʎ/ vuh-DYOL	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: вдоль
поперёк Preposition	across (the width of)	Preposition	/pəpʲɪˈrʲɵk/ puh-pih-RYOHK	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: поперёк
наза́д Adverb	back, backwards	Adverb	/nɐˈzat/ nuh-ZAHT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: назад
идти́ imperfective	to go, to walk (on foot, one way, now)	imperfective Aspect partner: пойти́	/ɪˈtʲtʲi/ ih-TEE	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: идти
ходи́ть imperfective	to go (on foot, there and back, or regularly)	imperfective	/xɐˈdʲitʲ/ khuh-DEET	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ходить
е́хать imperfective	to go, to travel (by vehicle, one way, now)	imperfective	/ˈjexətʲ/ YEH-khyut	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ехать
е́здить imperfective	to go, to travel (by vehicle, there and back, or regularly)	imperfective	/ˈjezdʲɪtʲ/ YEH-zdit	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ездить
пойти́ perfective	to set off, to start going (on foot)	perfective Aspect partner: идти́	/pɐjˈtʲi/ puy-TEE	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: пойти
прийти́ perfective	to arrive, to come (on foot)	perfective	/prʲɪjˈtʲi/ priy-TEE	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: прийти

Full six-case declension of the 5 nouns in this lesson

Each case is listed with the question word that selects it. Find the question you are answering and the ending follows.

Singular

Form	поворо́т (m)	перекрёсток (m)	светофо́р (m)	перехо́д (m)	остано́вка (f)
Nominative · Кто? Что?	поворо́т	перекрёсток	светофо́р	перехо́д	остано́вка
Genitive · Кого? Чего?	поворо́та	перекрёстка	светофо́ра	перехо́да	остано́вки
Dative · Кому? Чему?	поворо́ту	перекрёстку	светофо́ру	перехо́ду	остано́вке
Accusative · Кого? Что?	поворо́т	перекрёсток	светофо́р	перехо́д	остано́вку
Instrumental · Кем? Чем?	поворо́том	перекрёстком	светофо́ром	перехо́дом	остано́вкой
Prepositional · О ком? О чём?	поворо́те	перекрёстке	светофо́ре	перехо́де	остано́вке

Plural

Form	поворо́т (m)	перекрёсток (m)	светофо́р (m)	перехо́д (m)	остано́вка (f)
Nominative · Кто? Что?	поворо́ты	перекрёстки	светофо́ры	перехо́ды	остано́вки
Genitive · Кого? Чего?	поворо́тов	перекрёстков	светофо́ров	перехо́дов	остано́вок
Dative · Кому? Чему?	поворо́там	перекрёсткам	светофо́рам	перехо́дам	остано́вкам
Accusative · Кого? Что?	поворо́ты	перекрёстки	светофо́ры	перехо́ды	остано́вки
Instrumental · Кем? Чем?	поворо́тами	перекрёстками	светофо́рами	перехо́дами	остано́вками
Prepositional · О ком? О чём?	поворо́тах	перекрёстках	светофо́рах	перехо́дах	остано́вках

Ready-to-use phrases

Как пройти́ в музе́й?

How do I get to the museum on foot?

IPA /kak prɐjˈtʲi f mʊˈzʲej/

Say it KAHK pruy-TEE v moo-ZEY?

The question of the lesson. пройти́ is perfective, so the literal reading is "how does one walk as far as the museum", and the answer will be a walking route. Ask it with дое́хать instead and you will be told which bus to take.

travel directions questions motion city

Как дое́хать до вокза́ла?

How do I get to the station by transport?

IPA /kak dɐˈjexətʲ dɐ vɐɡˈzalə/

Say it KAHK duh-YEH-khyut duh vug-ZAH-luh?

до + genitive, as in Lesson 8: до вокза́ла. дое́хать is perfective, so its future is one word — дое́ду, дое́дешь — which is why the question needs no auxiliary.

travel directions questions motion transport

Иди́те пря́мо, вдоль у́лицы.

Go straight ahead, along the street.

IPA /ɪˈdʲitʲe ˈprʲamə vdolʲ ˈulʲitsɨ/

Say it ih-DEE-tyuh PRYAH-muh, vuh-DYOL OO-lih-tsih.

Directions to one stranger take the -те form even between people who would otherwise use ты. вдоль governs the genitive, hence у́лицы.

polite directions motion city

Пройди́те ми́мо па́рка.

Go past the park.

IPA /prɐjˈdʲitʲe ˈmʲimə ˈparkə/

Say it pruy-DEE-tyuh MEE-muh PAHR-kuh.

ми́мо + genitive. This is the standard way to turn a landmark into a milestone: name the thing you leave behind and the listener knows how far to go.

travel directions motion city

Перейди́те че́рез у́лицу по перехо́ду.

Cross the street by the pedestrian crossing.

IPA /pʲɪrʲɪjˈdʲitʲe ˈtɕerʲɪs ˈulʲitsʊ pə pʲɪrʲɪˈxodʊ/

Say it pih-riy-DEE-tyuh CHEH-ris OO-lih-tsoo puh pih-rih-KHOH-doo.

One sentence, two cases: че́рез + accusative for what you cross, по + dative for the way you cross it. It is also what a Russian parent says to a child.

travel directions motion city

На перекрёстке — поворо́т напра́во.

At the crossing, it is a turn to the right.

IPA /nə pʲɪrʲɪˈkrʲɵstkʲe pɐvɐˈrot nɐˈpravə/

Say it nuh pih-rih-KRYOHST-kyuh — puh-vuh-ROHT nuh-PRAH-vuh.

на + prepositional for the point on the route, as in Lesson 5. The turn is a noun, поворо́т, not a verb: Russian names the feature of the road rather than the action of the driver. перекрёстке needs no acute because ё is always stressed.

travel directions city place

Дойди́те до остано́вки.

Walk as far as the stop.

IPA /dɐjˈdʲitʲe dɐ ɐstɐˈnofkʲɪ/

Say it duy-DEE-tyuh duh uh-stuh-NOH-fkih.

до- and до are the same morpheme wanting the same case. Learn "дойти́ до + genitive" as one chunk and the ending follows for free.

travel directions motion transport

Авто́бус подъе́хал к светофо́ру.

The bus pulled up at the traffic lights.

IPA /ɐfˈtobʊs pɐdˈjexəl k svʲɪtɐˈforʊ/

Say it uh-FTOH-boos pud-YEH-khul k svih-tuh-FOH-roo.

подъе́хать governs к + dative, the same к of Lesson 9 that подошли́ takes. Note the ъ: it separates the prefix подъ- from the root and is never dropped.

neutral transport motion city

Он прихо́дит на рабо́ту у́тром.

He comes to work in the morning (every day).

IPA /on prʲɪˈxodʲɪt nə rɐˈbotʊ ˈutrom/

Say it OHN prih-KHOH-dit nuh ruh-BOH-too OO-trum.

The one imperfective verb of this lesson, and the contrast that makes aspect click: прихо́дит is what he does as a rule, придёт is what he will do once. у́тром is the instrumental time adverb of Lesson 10.

neutral motion present work time

Мы прие́дем на метро́.

We will arrive by metro.

IPA /mɨ prʲɪˈjedʲɪm nɐ mʲɪˈtro/

Say it MIH prih-YEH-dim nuh mih-TROH.

One word for the whole future, because прие́хать is perfective. Compare the imperfective future of Lesson 14: мы бу́дем приезжа́ть — two words, and a different meaning, "we will be coming (as a rule)".

neutral motion future transport

Он уже́ ушёл.

He has already left (on foot).

IPA /on ʊˈʐe ʊˈʂol/

Say it OHN oo-ZHEH oo-SHOHL.

Russian has no perfect tense, so a perfective past plus уже́ does the whole job of "has already gone". ушёл keeps the suppletive ш-stem of идти́ and a stressed ё, which is why there is no acute to place.

neutral motion past aspect time

Она́ уе́хала в Москву́.

She has left for Moscow.

IPA /ɐˈna ˈujexələ f mɐˈskvu/

Say it uh-NAH oo-YEH-khuh-luh v muh-SKVOO.

уе́хать takes в + accusative for the destination and из + genitive for the place left: она́ уе́хала из Москвы́ в Пе́тербург. The past is regular here — уе́хала, not a ш-stem — because the base is е́хать, not идти́.

neutral motion past travel

Зайди́те к нам ве́чером.

Drop in and see us this evening.

IPA /zɐjˈdʲitʲe k nam ˈvʲetɕɪrəm/

Say it zuy-DEE-tyuh k NAHM VYEH-chih-rum.

за- is "in passing, for a short call", never simply "into". к + dative for the people you are calling on, the government Lesson 9 gave you with к врачу́.

informal motion family time

Мы зае́дем в магази́н.

We will drop into the shop.

IPA /mɨ zɐˈjedʲɪm v mɐɡɐˈzʲin/

Say it MIH zuh-YEH-dim v muh-guh-ZEEN.

The vehicle twin of зайти́, with the same "on the way" meaning. In the car you заезжа́ете; on foot you заходи́те.

neutral motion future shopping

Войди́те, пожа́луйста.

Come in, please.

IPA /vɐjˈdʲitʲe pɐˈʐalʊjstə/

Say it vuy-DEE-tyuh, puh-ZHAH-luy-stuh.

The imperative of a prefixed perfective is built on the future stem: войду́ gives войди́, войди́те. It is what you say standing in a doorway — and what you hear from the other side of it.

polite motion politeness

Вы́йдем здесь.

Let us get off here.

IPA /ˈvɨjdʲɪm zdʲesʲ/

Say it VIY-dim ZDYES.

Of a bus, tram or train вы́йти means "to get off", not "to leave a building". The first person plural of a perfective verb — вы́йдем, пойдём, зайдём — is the standard "let us…", and Russian has no separate word for "let".

neutral motion transport

Подойди́те к остано́вке.

Come up to the stop.

IPA /pədɐjˈdʲitʲe k ɐstɐˈnofkʲɪ/

Say it puh-duy-DEE-tyuh k uh-stuh-NOH-fkyuh.

под- + к + dative. The same shape covers every approach: подойти́ к врачу́, подойти́ к окну́, подойти́ к вопро́су.

polite directions motion transport

Отойди́те наза́д.

Step back.

IPA /ɐtɐjˈdʲitʲe nɐˈzat/

Say it uh-tuy-DEE-tyuh nuh-ZAHT.

от- is "away from" and it wants от + genitive when it names what you move away from: отойди́те от окна́. With an adverb instead, as here, no case is involved at all.

neutral motion directions emergency

Пое́хали!

Let us go! (by vehicle)

IPA /ˈpojexəlʲɪ/

Say it puh-YEH-khuh-lih!

The past plural used as an invitation, exactly like пойдём! for walking. Gagarin said it on 12 April 1961 and it is still the first thing a Russian reaches for when the engine starts.

informal motion transport

Они́ перее́хали в но́вый дом.

They have moved to a new house.

IPA /ɐˈnʲi pʲɪrʲɪˈjexəlʲɪ v ˈnovɨj dom/

Say it uh-NEE pih-rih-YEH-khuh-lih v NOH-viy DOHM.

перее́хать means "to move house" with no preposition at all, and "to drive across" with че́рез + accusative. Which one you have is decided by what follows: в но́вый дом is a move, че́рез у́лицу is a crossing.

neutral motion past family

У́лица идёт поперёк го́рода.

The street runs across the city.

IPA /ˈulʲitsə ɪˈdʲot pəpʲɪˈrʲɵk ˈɡorədə/

Say it OO-lih-tsih ih-DYOHT puh-pih-RYOHK GOH-ruh-duh.

поперёк + genitive, the partner of вдоль. Notice too that a street in Russian идёт — it "goes" — where English says it "runs".

neutral city directions place

Авто́бус е́дет вокру́г го́рода.

The bus goes around the city.

IPA /ɐfˈtobʊs ˈjedʲɪt vɐˈkruk ˈɡorədə/

Say it uh-FTOH-boos YEH-dit vuh-KROOKH GOH-ruh-duh.

вокру́г + genitive. The unprefixed е́дет of Lesson 7 does the moving here; the preposition, not a prefix, supplies the circular path.

neutral transport directions city

До остано́вки бли́зко.

It is close to the stop.

IPA /dɐ ɐstɐˈnofkʲɪ ˈblʲiskə/

Say it duh uh-stuh-NOH-fkih BLEE-skuh.

A verbless sentence: до + genitive plus the adverb, no copula, exactly the Lesson 1 pattern. The opposite is до остано́вки далеко́.

neutral directions place transport

Я приду́ за́втра.

I will come tomorrow (on foot).

IPA /ja prʲɪˈdu ˈzavtrə/

Say it YAH prih-DOO ZAHF-truh.

приду́ has the shape of a present and is a future, because прийти́ is perfective. This is the form Lesson 14 taught for сде́лаю; motion verbs behave the same way, and there is no бу́ду anywhere in the sentence.

neutral motion future time

Dialogues

Asking the way on foot

Tom stops a passer-by, Marina, in the centre of town. They are strangers, so they use вы.

Tom
Здравствуйте! Скажите, пожалуйста, как пройти в музей?

Hello! Could you tell me, how do I get to the museum on foot?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Здравствуйте! Скажите, пожалуйста, как пройти в музей?
Marina
Идите прямо, вдоль улицы.

Go straight ahead, along the street.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Идите прямо, вдоль улицы.
Tom
А потом?

And then?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А потом?
Marina
На перекрёстке поворот направо. Пройдите мимо парка.

At the crossing there is a turn to the right. Go past the park.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: На перекрёстке поворот направо. Пройдите мимо парка.
Tom
Музей там?

Is the museum there?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Музей там?
Marina
Нет. Перейдите через улицу по переходу. Музей — вот там, у светофора.

No. Cross the street by the pedestrian crossing. The museum is right there, by the traffic lights.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Нет. Перейдите через улицу по переходу. Музей — вот там, у светофора.
Tom
Большое спасибо! А до музея далеко?

Thank you very much! And is the museum far?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Большое спасибо! А до музея далеко?
Marina
Нет, близко. Вы дойдёте быстро.

No, it is close. You will get there quickly.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Нет, близко. Вы дойдёте быстро.

At the bus stop

Tom asks Ivan, whom he has never met, how to reach the station. Two strangers, so вы throughout.

Tom
Скажите, пожалуйста, как доехать до вокзала?

Could you tell me, how do I get to the station by transport?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Скажите, пожалуйста, как доехать до вокзала?
Ivan
На автобусе. Остановка — через улицу.

By bus. The stop is across the street.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: На автобусе. Остановка — через улицу.
Tom
Автобус едет прямо?

Does the bus go straight ahead?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Автобус едет прямо?
Ivan
Нет, автобус едет вокруг города. Но до вокзала — три остановки.

No, the bus goes around the city. But it is only three stops to the station.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Нет, автобус едет вокруг города. Но до вокзала — три остановки.
Tom
А такси здесь есть?

And is there a taxi here?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А такси здесь есть?
Ivan
Такси подъедет быстро. А вот и ваш автобус, он уже подъехал.

A taxi will pull up quickly. And here is your bus — it has already arrived.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Такси подъедет быстро. А вот и ваш автобус, он уже подъехал.
Tom
Спасибо! А где я выйду?

Thank you! And where do I get off?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Спасибо! А где я выйду?
Ivan
Выйдете на третьей остановке. Вокзал — прямо там.

You get off at the third stop. The station is right there.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Выйдете на третьей остановке. Вокзал — прямо там.

In a taxi

Tom gets into a taxi. Driver and passenger are strangers and use вы, but Russian taxi drivers speak in the first person plural — куда едем? — and that is normal, not rude.

Driver
Здравствуйте! Куда едем?

Hello! Where are we going?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Здравствуйте! Куда едем?
Tom
На вокзал, пожалуйста.

To the station, please.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: На вокзал, пожалуйста.
Driver
Поехали. Прямо, потом направо?

Here we go. Straight ahead, then to the right?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Поехали. Прямо, потом направо?
Tom
Да, и ещё через два перекрёстка.

Yes, and then through two more crossings.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Да, и ещё через два перекрёстка.
Driver
Хорошо. Доедем до остановки и направо, мимо парка.

Right. We will get as far as the stop and then turn right, past the park.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Хорошо. Доедем до остановки и направо, мимо парка.
Tom
А сколько это стоит?

And how much is that?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А сколько это стоит?
Driver
Триста рублей. Мы уже приехали. Вокзал — вот там.

Three hundred roubles. Here we are. The station is right there.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Триста рублей. Мы уже приехали. Вокзал — вот там.
Tom
Хорошо! Спасибо большое.

Good! Thank you very much.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Хорошо! Спасибо большое.

Exercises

Answer actively — try to recall the Russian before you look at any hint.

Conjugation Exercise 1

Give the future form for "я".

прие́хать — я (future)

Show answer and explanation

прие́ду

прие́хать is perfective, so its future is a single word: the endings -у, -ешь, -ет, -ем, -ете, -ут go straight onto the stem приед-. The stress stays where it was in the infinitive, on the root vowel: прие́ду, прие́дешь, прие́дут.

Conjugation Exercise 2

Give the future form for "они́".

уйти́ — они́ (future)

Show answer and explanation

уйду́т

уйти́ is perfective, so this is a future even though it has the shape of a present. The future stem is уйд- and the third person plural ending is -ут: уйду́, уйдёшь, уйду́т.

Conjugation Exercise 3

Give the polite imperative.

прийти́ — imperative, вы

Show answer and explanation

приди́те

The imperative of a prefixed verb of идти́ is built on the future stem, not on the past: приду́ gives приди́, приди́те. The suppletive ш-stem never appears outside the past.

Conjugation Exercise 4

Give the future form for "ты".

дойти́ — ты (future)

Show answer and explanation

дойдёшь

дойти́ → дойду́, дойдёшь, дойдёт. Because the stress falls on the ending, that ending vowel is written ё and never е: дойдёшь, not *дойдешь. The ё is itself the stress mark, so it takes no acute.

Conjugation Exercise 5

Give the past tense form for a female subject.

вы́йти — past, a woman speaking

Show answer and explanation

вы́шла

The past of the идти́ family is built on a different stem entirely: шёл, шла, шло, шли. вы- is the one prefix that drags the stress onto itself, so every form is вы́шел, вы́шла, вы́шло, вы́шли — and the masculine writes е, not ё.

Conjugation Exercise 6

Give the future form for "мы".

подъе́хать — мы (future)

Show answer and explanation

подъе́дем

The whole е́хать family is stress-regular: the root vowel keeps the stress in the infinitive, the future and the past alike. подъе́ду, подъе́дешь, подъе́дем. The ъ stays in every form — it marks the prefix boundary and is never dropped.

Conjugation Exercise 7

Give the present tense form for "я".

приходи́ть — я (present)

Show answer and explanation

прихожу́

приходи́ть is the one imperfective verb here, so it is the only one with a present tense. It inherits the stress shift of ходи́ть: the д softens to ж and the first person singular stresses the ending — прихожу́ — while every other present form pulls the stress back onto the stem: прихо́дишь, прихо́дит, прихо́дят.

Conjugation Exercise 8

Give the future form for "они́".

перейти́ — они́ (future)

Show answer and explanation

перейду́т

The future stem is перейд- and the ending is -ут: перейду́, перейдёшь, перейдёт, перейдём, перейдёте, перейду́т. The past, as always with идти́, jumps to the ш-stem: перешёл, перешла́.

Translate into Russian Exercise 9

Translate into Russian.

I will come tomorrow (on foot).

Show answer and explanation

Я приду́ за́втра.

Hint: прийти́ (perfective) + за́втра

прийти́ is perfective, so "will come" is one word — приду́ — and there is no бу́ду anywhere. On foot takes прийти́; if you were coming by car or by bus it would be прие́ду.

Translate into Russian Exercise 10

Translate into Russian, addressing one person politely.

Go straight ahead.

Show answer and explanation

Иди́те пря́мо.

Hint: идти́ (imperative) + пря́мо

The imperative of идти́ is иди́ / иди́те, and directions to a stranger take the -te form. пря́мо is an adverb and governs nothing, so the sentence ends there.

Translate into Russian Exercise 11

Translate into Russian.

How do I get to the museum on foot?

Show answer and explanation

Как пройти́ в музе́й?

Hint: как + perfective infinitive

Two ways to ask it, both correct: как пройти́ в музе́й, with в + accusative for the place you end up in, and как дойти́ до музе́я, with до + genitive for the point you reach. A perfective infinitive after как is the standard route question.

Translate into Russian Exercise 12

Translate into Russian.

He has already left (on foot).

Show answer and explanation

Он уже́ ушёл.

Hint: уже́ + perfective past of уйти́

Russian has no perfect tense. A perfective past plus уже́ does the whole job of "has already gone". ушёл keeps the ш-stem of идти́ and a stressed ё, which carries its own stress and takes no acute.

Translate into Russian Exercise 13

Translate into Russian, addressing one person politely.

Cross the street.

Show answer and explanation

Перейди́те че́рез у́лицу.

Hint: перейти́ + че́рез + accusative

перейти́ governs че́рез + accusative. The imperative comes off the future stem: перейду́ gives перейди́те. перейти́ у́лицу, without че́рез, is equally good Russian.

Translate into Russian Exercise 14

Translate into Russian.

We will drop into the shop (by car).

Show answer and explanation

Мы зае́дем в магази́н.

Hint: зае́хать (perfective) + в + accusative

за- on a motion verb means "in passing, for a short call", not "into". By car that is зае́хать; on foot it is зайти́. Both are perfective, so the future is one word.

Translate into English Exercise 15

Translate into English.

Войди́те, пожа́луйста.

Show answer and explanation

Come in, please.

войти́ is "to come in", and the imperative войди́те is what you say from inside a room when someone knocks. The perfective imperative is built on the future stem: войду́ → войди́те.

Translate into English Exercise 16

Translate into English.

Она́ уе́хала в Москву́.

Show answer and explanation

She has left for Moscow.

уе́хать is "to leave by vehicle", and в + accusative names the destination. A perfective past with no time adverb reads naturally as an English present perfect: she has left, she is not here now.

Translate into English Exercise 17

Translate into English.

Дойди́те до остано́вки.

Show answer and explanation

Walk as far as the stop.

до- and до are the same morpheme doing the same work, and both want the genitive: дойти́ до остано́вки. The verb is perfective, so the imperative describes one completed stretch of the route, not a habit.

Translate into English Exercise 18

Translate into English.

Авто́бус подъе́хал к светофо́ру.

Show answer and explanation

The bus pulled up at the traffic lights.

подъе́хать governs к + dative, the same government подошли́ has. под- is "up to, close to", so the verb describes the last few metres of the journey rather than the journey itself.

Multiple choice Exercise 19

Choose the correct prefix.

Which prefix means "arrive"?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: при- у- до- за-

при-

при- is arrival and у- is departure, and the pair works identically on both bases: прийти́ / прие́хать, уйти́ / уе́хать. до- is "as far as" and за- is "a short call on the way".

Multiple choice Exercise 20

Choose the correct verb.

Which verb means "to drop in" on foot?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: зайти́ войти́ дойти́ пройти́

зайти́

зайти́ is "to call in, to pop round" — зайди́те к нам ве́чером. войти́ is simply to go in, дойти́ is to get as far as, and пройти́ is to pass or to walk through. The difference is not guessable from the prefix alone, which is why зайти́ is worth learning as a chunk.

Multiple choice Exercise 21

Choose the correct form.

What is the past tense of прийти́ for "she"?

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Choose from: пришёл пришла́ пришло́ пришли́

пришла́

The past of every prefixed verb of идти́ is built on the suppletive ш-stem: пришёл, пришла́, пришло́, пришли́. Nothing in the infinitive warns you — you learn the four forms once and every prefix then inherits them.

Fill the gap Exercise 22

Fill the gap: "Go past the park."

Пройди́те ___ па́рка.

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ми́мо

Hint: a preposition meaning "past"

ми́мо governs the genitive and turns a landmark into a milestone: пройти́ ми́мо па́рка, прое́хать ми́мо магази́на. че́рез would mean "through the park", and вдоль would mean "along it".

Fill the gap Exercise 23

Fill the gap with the past tense of дойти́.

Вчера́ он ___ до остано́вки. (дойти́)

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дошёл

Hint: the ш-stem of идти́

до + genitive, and the masculine past of the идти́ family ends in -шёл. вчера́ forces the past, and the past has no person — only gender and number, so a woman says дошла́.

Listen and type Exercise 24

Play the audio and type what you hear.

Listen and type the sentence.

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Пройди́те ми́мо па́рка.

ми́мо is pronounced [ˈmʲimə] — the first и is stressed and the final а reduces to [ə]. пройди́те stresses the second syllable, and the й belongs to the first part of the word: про-йди-те.

True or false Exercise 25

Answer true or false.

Приду́ is a present-tense form.

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false

It has the shape of a present and is not one. прийти́ is perfective, and a perfective verb has no present tense at all — приду́, придёшь, придёт are futures. For "I am coming now" Russian uses the imperfective: я прихожу́ or я иду́.

True or false Exercise 26

Answer true or false.

Every prefixed motion verb in this lesson is perfective.

Show answer and explanation

true

A prefix that adds a limit — arrive, reach, cross, leave — is exactly what turns an unfinished action into a finished one, and that is the perfective. The one imperfective verb in the word list, приходи́ть, carries a prefix in form only: its meaning is the habitual partner of прийти́, with no single-trip limit.

Match the pairs Exercise 27

Pair the prefixes with their meanings.

Match each prefix with the meaning it adds to a motion verb.

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при- arrive, у- leave, в- come in, вы- come out, до- reach, за- drop in, про- pass, пере- cross, под- come up to, от- step back

Ten prefixes, ten meanings, and each one behaves the same on идти́ and on е́хать. Learn the meanings rather than the verbs and the twenty-two forms build themselves.

Choose the case Exercise 28

Choose the correct phrase.

Дойди́те ___ . (перекрёсток)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: до перекрёстка на перекрёстке к перекрёстку че́рез перекрёсток

до перекрёстка

Hint: дойти́ + до + …

дойти́ governs до + genitive, and the prefix до- and the preposition до are the same morpheme. перекрёсток is masculine and hard-stemmed, so the genitive singular is перекрёстка — the о of -ок is fleeting and disappears.

Choose the case Exercise 29

Choose the correct phrase.

Отойди́те ___ . (окно́)

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Choose from: от окна́ у окна́ к окну́ из окна́

от окна́

Hint: отойти́ + от + …

отойти́ governs от + genitive — the prefix and the preposition are again the same thing, "away from". окно́ has mobile stress, so the genitive is окна́ rather than *о́кна, exactly like ме́сто — места́ in Lesson 8.

Choose the ending Exercise 30

Choose the ending.

Future of перейти́ for «мы»: перейд___

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Choose from: ём ем им ам

ём

The stress falls on the ending, and a stressed -е- in a Russian ending is always written ё: перейдём, never *перейдем. The same rule gives уйдём, войдём, дойдём — and the opposite one gives вы́йдем, where the stress has moved onto the prefix and the ending is therefore plain е.

Choose the aspect Exercise 31

Choose the verb that fits: a single visit, tomorrow.

За́втра я ___ к вам.

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Choose from: приду́ прихожу́ приходи́л прихо́дит

приду́

One planned, completed visit takes the perfective прийти́ — and because it is perfective, приду́ is already a future with no auxiliary. прихожу́ is the imperfective present and would mean "I come (as a rule)", which за́втра contradicts.

Choose the stress Exercise 32

Choose the correctly stressed form.

Where does the stress fall in «доехать»?

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Choose from: до́ехать дое́хать доеха́ть

дое́хать

Hint: the stress stays on the root of е́хать

The whole е́хать family keeps the stress on the root vowel of -ех- and -ед-: дое́хать, дое́ду, дое́хал. Neither the prefix nor the ending ever takes it, which is what makes this family so much more predictable than the идти́ one.

Word order Exercise 33

Put the words in order.

Build the sentence: "I will come tomorrow (on foot)."

Show answer and explanation

Я приду́ за́втра.

Subject, verb, time adverb is the neutral frame. The distractors are a different tense and a different verb of motion: вчера́ belongs to the past, and прие́ду is arrival by vehicle rather than on foot.

Transform the sentence Exercise 34

Rewrite it with по-.

Add the prefix and put this into the future: «Я е́ду в Москву́.»

Show answer and explanation

Я пое́ду в Москву́.

Hint: perfective future = one word

пое́хать is perfective, so the future is a single conjugated word and бу́ду disappears. Note what the two sentences mean: я еду́ в Москву́ already carries a future sense for a settled plan, while я пое́ду announces the decision to set off. The destination stays in the accusative after в.

Speak now

Say each sentence aloud three times: slowly, at normal speed, then from memory. Then change the prefix and run the same sentence through the whole family — приду́, уйду́, дойду́, зайду́, перейду́ — without stopping. The drill that matters here is not remembering twenty verbs; it is hearing that they are one verb with eleven hats on.

Я приду́ за́втра. I will come tomorrow (on foot). Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я приду́ за́втра.
Мы прие́дем на метро́. We will arrive by metro. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мы прие́дем на метро́.
Как пройти́ в музе́й? How do I get to the museum on foot? Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Как пройти́ в музе́й?
Иди́те пря́мо до перекрёстка. Go straight ahead as far as the crossing. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Иди́те пря́мо до перекрёстка.
Он уже́ ушёл, она́ уе́хала. He has already left on foot, she has left by vehicle. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Он уже́ ушёл, она́ уе́хала.
Зайди́те к нам ве́чером. Drop in and see us this evening. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Зайди́те к нам ве́чером.

Lesson checkpoint

Before you move on, make sure you can do all of this without looking:

Say the whole future of прийти́ from memory, all six forms, then do the same for прие́хать
Give the four past forms of прийти́ and of прие́хать side by side, and say out loud where the two stems differ
Build a verb from each of the prefixes у-, в-, вы-, до-, за-, про-, пере-, под- and от- on both bases, and say what each one means without looking
Ask a stranger how to get to the museum on foot, then how to get to the station by transport, and give yourself the answer to both
Describe a five-step route from where you are sitting, using иди́те, дойди́те, пройди́те and перейди́те plus at least three of ми́мо, че́рез, вдоль, вокру́г and поперёк
Put the correct case after each of the five direction prepositions, saying a full noun phrase with every one of them

Remember this

The prefix carries the direction, the base carries the means. при- + идти́ is to arrive on foot, при- + е́хать is to arrive by vehicle, and the prefix means the same thing whichever verb it sits on.
Every prefixed motion verb here is perfective, so none of them has a present tense. приду́ is a future, and the future is a single word — the perfective future of Lesson 14, with no бу́ду anywhere in it.
The past of the идти́ family is built on a completely different stem: пришёл, пришла́, пришло́, пришли́. Learn those four once and every prefix inherits them. The е́хать family is regular — прие́хал, прие́хала.
вы- is the single exception: it drags the stress onto itself in every form, so вы́йду, вы́йдешь, вы́шел and вы́шла all stress the prefix, and the ending is written е rather than ё.
Each prefix brings its own preposition and its own case: войти́ в + accusative, вы́йти из + genitive, дойти́ до + genitive, подойти́ к + dative, отойти́ от + genitive, перейти́ че́рез + accusative.
зайти́ and зае́хать mean "to drop by", not "to go in" — Зайди́те к нам ве́чером. And most of this lesson is A2, not A1: learn eleven prefix meanings and two stems, and build the verbs when you need them.

Go deeper: The motion prefix system · идти́, ходи́ть, е́хать, е́здить · Verbal aspect · The two futures · Prepositions and the cases they take · The imperative

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