Learning to read in a new language can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and Russian is no exception. However, as you progress in your studies, you’ll find that there’s a distinction between simply reading a text and rereading it. In Russian, these two actions are expressed with different verbs: читать (chitat’) and перечитывать (perechityvat’). Understanding the nuances between these words can help you become a more effective reader and learner of Russian.

Читать (chitat’) – To Read

Читать is the Russian verb that means “to read.” It is an imperfective verb, which means it describes an ongoing or habitual action. When you use читать, you are generally talking about the act of reading without specifying whether the action has been completed.

читать – to read
Я люблю читать книги.
I love to read books.

In this example, the speaker is expressing a general enjoyment of reading books. There is no indication of whether a particular book has been finished.

Conjugation of Читать

To make the most out of using читать, it’s essential to know how to conjugate it in different tenses:

Present Tense:
Я читаю – I read
Ты читаешь – You read (informal)
Он/Она/Оно читает – He/She/It reads
Мы читаем – We read
Вы читаете – You read (formal/plural)
Они читают – They read

Past Tense:
Я читал/читала – I read (male/female)
Ты читал/читала – You read (informal, male/female)
Он читал – He read
Она читала – She read
Оно читало – It read
Мы читали – We read
Вы читали – You read (formal/plural)
Они читали – They read

Future Tense:
Я буду читать – I will read
Ты будешь читать – You will read (informal)
Он/Она/Оно будет читать – He/She/It will read
Мы будем читать – We will read
Вы будете читать – You will read (formal/plural)
Они будут читать – They will read

Перечитывать (perechityvat’) – To Reread

Перечитывать is the verb that means “to reread” in Russian. This verb is also imperfective, indicating that the action of rereading is either ongoing or habitual. When you use перечитывать, you are talking about reading something again, often to reinforce understanding or for enjoyment.

перечитывать – to reread
Я люблю перечитывать свои любимые книги.
I love to reread my favorite books.

In this example, the speaker enjoys the repeated action of reading their favorite books again, suggesting a habitual action.

Conjugation of Перечитывать

Just like читать, перечитывать needs to be conjugated to fit different contexts:

Present Tense:
Я перечитываю – I reread
Ты перечитываешь – You reread (informal)
Он/Она/Оно перечитывает – He/She/It rereads
Мы перечитываем – We reread
Вы перечитываете – You reread (formal/plural)
Они перечитывают – They reread

Past Tense:
Я перечитывал/перечитывала – I reread (male/female)
Ты перечитывал/перечитывала – You reread (informal, male/female)
Он перечитывал – He reread
Она перечитывала – She reread
Оно перечитывало – It reread
Мы перечитывали – We reread
Вы перечитывали – You reread (formal/plural)
Они перечитывали – They reread

Future Tense:
Я буду перечитывать – I will reread
Ты будешь перечитывать – You will reread (informal)
Он/Она/Оно будет перечитывать – He/She/It will reread
Мы будем перечитывать – We will reread
Вы будете перечитывать – You will reread (formal/plural)
Они будут перечитывать – They will reread

Why Rereading is Important

Rereading is a valuable practice for several reasons. When you перечитывать, you reinforce your understanding of the text, which can improve your comprehension and retention of new vocabulary.

понимание – understanding
Перечитывание текста улучшает понимание.
Rereading the text improves understanding.

Rereading also allows you to notice details you may have missed during your first read-through. This can be particularly beneficial when studying complex materials or literature.

детали – details
При перечитывании можно заметить больше деталей.
You can notice more details when rereading.

Additionally, rereading can enhance your fluency in Russian. By repeatedly encountering the same words and phrases, you become more comfortable with their usage and context.

беглость – fluency
Перечитывание помогает улучшить беглость речи.
Rereading helps to improve speech fluency.

Strategies for Effective Rereading

To make the most out of your rereading practice, consider the following strategies:

1. **Take Notes:**
When you читать and перечитывать, take notes on new vocabulary, grammar structures, and any questions you have about the text. This will help you focus on areas that need improvement.

заметки – notes
Делайте заметки во время чтения и перечитывания.
Take notes while reading and rereading.

2. **Discuss What You’ve Read:**
Talking about what you’ve read with others can deepen your understanding and provide new perspectives on the material.

обсуждать – to discuss
Обсуждайте прочитанное с другими для лучшего понимания.
Discuss what you’ve read with others for better understanding.

3. **Highlight Important Sections:**
Use a highlighter or a digital tool to mark important passages or sections that you want to revisit during your rereading sessions.

выделять – to highlight
Выделяйте важные разделы для повторного чтения.
Highlight important sections for rereading.

4. **Summarize:**
After reading and rereading, try to summarize the text in your own words. This can help solidify your comprehension and retention.

суммировать – to summarize
Суммируйте текст после чтения и перечитывания.
Summarize the text after reading and rereading.

5. **Set Goals:**
Establish specific goals for your rereading sessions, such as focusing on a particular grammar point or vocabulary set.

цели – goals
Устанавливайте цели для своих занятий перечитыванием.
Set goals for your rereading sessions.

Balancing Reading and Rereading

While both reading and rereading are important, it’s crucial to find a balance between the two. Reading new texts exposes you to fresh content and vocabulary, while rereading helps reinforce what you’ve already learned.

баланс – balance
Нужно найти баланс между чтением и перечитыванием.
You need to find a balance between reading and rereading.

One effective approach is to alternate between reading new material and rereading familiar texts. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of both practices without becoming overwhelmed or bored.

чередовать – to alternate
Чередуйте чтение новых материалов и перечитывание.
Alternate between reading new materials and rereading.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between читать and перечитывать can greatly enhance your Russian language learning experience. Both actions serve unique and complementary purposes in building your fluency, comprehension, and retention. By incorporating a mix of reading and rereading into your study routine, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the Russian language.

Happy reading and rereading!