Which one should you use?
Russian distinguishes between the ongoing process and a completed action. Use the imperfective проверять to describe an ongoing, habitual or repeated process of checking. In contrast, use the perfective form проверить when referring to a single, completed action or the act of finishing a check.
How does it change in a sentence?
The imperfective проверять is the default form for ongoing actions. The perfective form проверить is used for completed actions. For example, the masculine past tense of the perfective is проверил. If you want to issue a command or make a polite request to 'check', use the imperative form проверьте.
How do you pronounce it?
proveryat'
When do people say it?
When dining out and requesting the bill (the 'check'), there are different levels of politeness. For a formal and polite request, you can say Счет, пожалуйста (Check, please) or Вы можете принести счет? (Could you bring the check, please?). In informal settings, you might use Дай, пожалуйста, счет (Give me the check, please) or Можешь принести счет (Can you bring the check?).
Did you know?
- The root of проверять is related to the word верить, which means 'to believe'. To check something is literally to 'put it to the test of belief'.
- To 'check in' at a hotel or airport does not use проверять, but rather регистрироваться, which means 'to register'.
- If you are 'checking' a person's credentials or a document, you might use the word проверка, which is the noun form and can also mean a 'raid' or a 'police inspection'.
Examples in context
- Я люблю проверять свой аккаунт на Фэйсбуке.I like to check my Facebook account.This sentence shows how to use проверять regarding a Facebook account.Tatoeba #3299966 by Balamax, translation #1762356 by Amastan
- Вам обязательно проверять телефон каждые тридцать секунд?Do you really need to check your phone every 30 seconds?This sentence uses проверять to ask about checking a phone habitually.Tatoeba #9453708 by marafon, translation #4493104 by Hybrid
- Их работа заключается в том, чтобы проверять систему безопасности.Their job is to check the security system.This sentence uses проверять to describe a job responsibility involving a security system.Tatoeba #4781163 by odexed, translation #1771248 by Amastan
- Добрый день, сэр. Счет, пожалуйста.Good day, sir. Check, please.
- Естественно. Вот ваш счет.Of course. Here is your check.
- Давай, пожалуйста, счет.Give me the check, please.
- Конечно, сейчас принесу.Sure, I'll bring it right away.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sergey and Olga are working on a joint report.
- Сергей SergeyОльга, ты можешь проверить эти цифры?Olga, ty mozhesh' proverit' eti tsifry?Olga, can you check these figures?
- Ольга OlgaДа, я сейчас буду проверять данные.Da, ya seychas budu proveryat' dannye.Yes, I am going to check the data now.
- Сергей SergeyСпасибо, мне важно всё проверить дважды.Spasibo, mne vazhno vsyo proverit' dvazhdy.Thanks, it's important for me to check everything twice.
- Ольга OlgaХорошо, я сообщу, если найду ошибку.Khorosho, ya soobshchu, yesli naydu oshibku.Alright, I'll let you know if I find a mistake.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
