How to use

Verbs of motion refer to a group of verbs used to describe the action of movement from one place to another. These verbs are essential in Russian grammar and have specific forms depending on various factors such as direction, means of transportation, and the type of movement.

The first pair we will cover is идти́ and е́хать.

The verbs идти́ and е́хать both express the idea of movement from one place to another, but they are used in different contexts.

• Идти́ is used to indicate the action of going on foot. It implies movement towards a destination that is relatively close or within walking distance. You can also use it if you don't specify the method of transportation.
• Е́хать is used to indicate the action of going by some means of transportation, such as a car, bus, train, or any other vehicle. It suggests movement towards a destination that is relatively far or requires the use of a vehicle.

How to form

Here are the forms of the verbs in the present tense.

The verb е́хать, despite its infinitive form, doesn't follow the usual rule of removing the -ть ending for first-conjugation verbs. Instead, the stem changes to ед-.

The verb идти́ doesn't have the usual -ть ending in the infinitive form. To conjugate it correctly, you need to remove the -ти ending. In all forms that have е in the conjugated ending, it changes to ё. According to Russian pronunciation rules, ё is always stressed.