Are the imperative and infinitive always completely reasonable alternatives?
E.g.:
Сидеть! - сиди!
не повторя́ть! - не повторя́й!
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see [link] (http://russian.stackexchange.com/questions/1512/imperatives-and-aspect?rq=1) Imperatives and Aspect – N romaai Jun 26 '14 at 18:24
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‘Не повторя́ть!>’ not ‘Не повтори́ть!’ – Dmitry Alexandrov Jun 26 '14 at 19:34
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@DmitryAlexandrov is "повторять" the imperfective? as "повторяй" is? – N romaai Jun 26 '14 at 20:18
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Yes, exactly. Повторя́й is a singular imperative form of повторя́ть. The same form of повтори́ть would be повтори́. – Dmitry Alexandrov Jun 26 '14 at 20:43
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The linked question contains a thorough explanation. My examples are from a movie where the guard is instructing a prisoner (фартовый) – N romaai Jun 26 '14 at 20:47
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There is a slight difference between them, the infinite sentences used as imperative are much more aggressive and exigent. For example, only infinite sentences are used to train dogs:
Ша́рик, сиде́ть! Sharik (dog's name), sit!
Ты посиди́ здесь, а я пойду́ посмотрю́, в чём там де́ло. Stay (sit) here, and I will see what is happening.
RussianTeacher
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I get the example in regards to the question, but I dont understand "я пойду́ посмотрю́." Is "посмотрю́" the direct object of "пойду́" (like "I will have a look")? Or are they both verbs that agree with "я?" – N romaai Jun 27 '14 at 16:35
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1In this case it is not the imperative or the infinite construction. It is a colloquial expression, used normally with the verbs of movement. These are two verbs in the form of the 1st person, singular (я):
Я пойду посмотрю (colloquial speech) = Я пойду посмотреть (neurtral speech) Я сбегаю куплю хлеб (colloquial speech) = Я сбегаю купить хлеб (neutral speech).
– RussianTeacher Jun 27 '14 at 16:50 -
Can you use it any person? eg Ты посиди́ здесь, а он пойдёт посмо́трит, в чём там де́ло. – N romaai Jun 27 '14 at 22:03
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