Russian verbal adverbs (деепричастия).

What verbal adverbs do

A verbal adverb (often called a "gerund" in English-language Russian textbooks, though it's technically different from an English gerund) modifies a main verb by describing a second action happening at the same time or just before. It doesn't change form - no agreement for gender, number, person, or case. One form per aspect.

• Идя домой, я встретил Машу. - Walking home, I ran into Masha.
• Прочитав книгу, она написала отзыв. - Having read the book, she wrote a review.
• Слушая музыку, он работал. - Listening to music, he worked.

The subject of the verbal adverb is always the same as the subject of the main verb. If you change subjects, you can't use this construction - you need a full clause with который or когда.

Imperfective verbal adverb (-я / -а)

Built from the imperfective verb's 3rd-person plural form. Drop the personal ending, add -я (after most consonants) or -а (after hushing sounds ж, ш, ч, щ).

• читать → читают → чита- + -я → читая (while reading)
• идти → идут → ид- + -я → идя (while going)
• писать → пишут → пиш- + -а → пиша (while writing) - rare in this verb
• слышать → слышат → слыш- + -а → слыша (while hearing)
• смотреть → смотрят → смотр- + -я → смотря (while looking)

Imperfective verbal adverbs describe an action happening simultaneously with the main verb. In English: "while doing X" or "by doing X."

Perfective verbal adverb (-в / -вши / -ши)

Built from the perfective past stem. Drop the -л of the masculine past form, add:

• -в for most verbs: написал → написав (having written)
• -вши for archaic / reflexive: написавши, узнавши - now rare, mostly literary
• -ши if the past doesn't end in -л: принёс → принёсши (having brought)

Perfective verbal adverbs describe an action completed before the main verb. In English: "having done X."

• прочитав - having read (through)
• написав - having written
• сделав - having done
• увидев - having seen / caught sight of
• придя - having arrived (irregular)
• уйдя - having left (irregular)

Where you'll meet verbal adverbs

Verbal adverbs are common in:

• Written Russian - literature, news, academic prose, formal documents
• Set expressions - не говоря уже о... (not to mention), судя по... (judging by), несмотря на... (despite)
• Formal speech - speeches, lectures, news broadcasts

They're rare in casual conversation. Spoken Russian prefers two finite clauses joined with когда (when), пока (while), потому что (because), or coordinating conjunctions. Compare:

• Formal: Прочитав статью, я понял.
• Casual: Я прочитал статью и понял. (more natural in speech)

Common fossilised verbal adverbs

Some verbal adverbs have become regular prepositions or fixed phrases. You can use these without engaging with the grammar at all.

• благодаря + dative - thanks to (from благодарить, "to thank")
• несмотря на + accusative - despite (from смотреть, "to look")
• спустя + accusative - after, later (from спускать, "to lower")
• судя по + dative - judging by (from судить, "to judge")
• не говоря уже о + prepositional - not to mention (from говорить)

These behave like prepositions now, but their origin is the verbal adverb form. You'll see them constantly even in spoken Russian.

Common pitfalls

Changing the subject between the gerund and the main verb

The subject of the verbal adverb must match the subject of the main verb. "Reading the book, the doorbell rang" is a dangling participle in English, and Russian rejects the equivalent. Use a full clause: Когда я читал книгу, зазвонил звонок.

Trying to use them in speech

A sentence like "Придя домой, я поел" (having come home, I ate) is grammatical but sounds bookish in conversation. The natural spoken version: "Я пришёл домой и поел" (I came home and ate). Reserve verbal adverbs for writing.

Mixing up aspect: which fits the timing

Use the imperfective gerund (-я / -а) when both actions happen at the same time. Use the perfective gerund (-в / -вши) when the gerund action ends before the main verb starts. The timing is part of the meaning, not a stylistic choice.

Building gerunds from verbs that don't have them

Many high-frequency verbs lack a regular verbal adverb form or have an awkward one: писать in the imperfective gives a theoretical "пиша" that nobody actually says. ждать, петь, пить, бить are similar. When in doubt, rephrase with когда + finite verb.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Russian gerund?

A Russian gerund (деепричастие, also called a 'verbal adverb') is an unchanging verb form that describes a secondary action accompanying the main verb. It doesn't decline for gender, number, person, or case - one form per verb per aspect. Imperfective gerunds end in -я or -а (читая, слыша) and mean 'while doing X.' Perfective gerunds end in -в or -вши (прочитав, написав) and mean 'having done X.' The subject is always the same as the main verb's subject.

How do I form an imperfective gerund?

Take the imperfective verb's 3rd-person plural present-tense form (они читают, они смотрят), drop the personal ending, and add -я after most consonants or -а after hushing sounds (ж, ш, ч, щ). Examples: читать → читая, смотреть → смотря, слышать → слыша, идти → идя. The result is an unchanging form that means 'while doing X' or 'by doing X.'

How do I form a perfective gerund?

Take the perfective verb's masculine past form, drop the -л, and add -в. Examples: прочитал → прочитав, написал → написав, сделал → сделав. The result means 'having done X.' Some verbs (especially prefixed motion verbs) form their perfective gerund irregularly with -я: уйти → уйдя, прийти → придя. Archaic literary forms in -вши (написавши, прочитавши) exist but feel old-fashioned.

When are gerunds used in Russian?

Gerunds are common in written and formal Russian: literature, journalism, academic prose, official documents, speeches. They condense two clauses into one and let a writer pack more information into a sentence. In casual conversation, Russians prefer two finite clauses joined with когда (when), пока (while), потому что (because), or simple coordination. Recognise them when reading; in speech, use full clauses instead.

Can the subject of a Russian gerund be different from the main verb?

No. The implicit subject of the gerund must match the explicit subject of the main verb. 'Reading the book, the doorbell rang' would be a dangling participle in English and is equally wrong in Russian. To express two actions with different subjects, use a full clause: 'Когда я читал книгу, зазвонил звонок' (When I was reading the book, the doorbell rang).

What's the difference between an imperfective and a perfective gerund?

Imperfective gerunds (-я / -а) describe simultaneous action: the gerund's action happens at the same time as the main verb. 'Читая книгу, она пила кофе' (While reading a book, she drank coffee). Perfective gerunds (-в / -вши) describe a completed prior action: the gerund's action finishes before the main verb starts. 'Прочитав книгу, она пила кофе' (Having read the book, she drank coffee).

Are some Russian prepositions actually old gerunds?

Yes. Several common Russian prepositions originated as verbal adverbs and have become fixed. Благодаря (thanks to) was the gerund of благодарить (to thank). Несмотря на (despite) was the gerund of смотреть (to look). Спустя (after, later) came from спускать (to lower). Судя по (judging by) came from судить (to judge). They behave as prepositions now and govern specific cases, so you don't need to engage with their gerund-grammar origin - just memorise them as prepositions.