Verbs of Motion with a prefix

Prefixes are added to verbs of motion to express particular nuances.

The Prefix ПО-

When used with verbs of motion of the type “идти”, this prefix indicates the start of movement or the intention to move off, and all verbs formed in this way are perfective: пойти (to set off by foot), поехать (to set off by transport), побежать (to set off running), полететь (to set off flying), etc.

Main Prefixes of Direction

Prefix	Meaning	Preposition and Case	Examples
в- (во-)	entry	в (во). на + Acc.	войти в комнату to go into the room вбежать на стадион to run into the stadium
вы-	exit	из, с + Gen.	выехать из Лондона to drive out of London выйти с концерта to leave the concert
при-	arrival	в (во). на + Acc.	приехать в Москву to arrive in Moscow прийти на урок to come at the lesson
у-	leaving	из, с + Gen.	уехать из Лондона to leave London уйти с работы to leave work
до-	reaching	до + Gen.	доехать до музея to reach the museum
под-	approaching	к + Dat.	подойти к окну to go up to the window
от-	movement away from	от + Gen.	отъехать от дома to go away from the house
пере-	crossing, or moving from one place to another	через + Асc.	перейти площадь to cross a square переехать в Лондон to move to London
про-	travelling a certain distance going by / go past going over going through	Acc. мимо + Gen. по + Dat. через + Асc.	пробежать 5 км to run 5 km проехать мимо Кремля to drive past the Kremlin пройти по мосту to go over the bridge пройти через парк to go through the park
за-	going behind stopping off making a detour or calling in somewhere	за + Асc. в, на + Асc. к + Dat.	зайти за угол дома to go behind the corner of the houseзайти в магазин to come by the shop заехать к другу по дороге домой to call on a friend on the way home
об- (обо-)	going round	Асс. вокруг + Gen	обойти лужу to go round a puddle объехать вокруг дома to drive round the house

• Certain prefixes express movement in opposite directions: в-, вы-, под-, от-, при-, у-

IMPERFECTIVE AND PERFECTIVE

• Prefix + verb of the “идти” group → perfective verb (идти → прийти)

• Prefix + verb of the “ходить” group → imperfective verb (ходить → приходить)

These verbs form aspect pairs: imperfective → perfective приезжать → приехать уходить → уйти Verbs of motion with a prefix have the normal imperfective/perfective characteristics. They do not have the specific nuances of meaning of motion verbs without prefixes, groups 1 and 2.

CONJUGATION

Verbs of motion with a prefix usually have the same forms as verbs without a prefix. Apart from derivations of: ездить (to go by transport) бегать (to run) плавать (to swim)

SPECIAL MEANINGS of these aspect pairs

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