Duo Russian Grammar

48) Imperative2

Perfective vs. Imperfective

Certainly use imperfective when specifying the manner in which the action should be performed.

Use perfective when asking for a simple action without it being really obvious next action.

Certainly, with "Please" and following details, since it is really rare you would politely ask for an obvious thing to do.

There is also the important permission/denial pattern: use imperfective when NOT letting something.

MAY YOU DO IT? Example
yes + imperf. «Можно открыть окно?» — «Да, открывай». (I don't mind)
yes + perf. «Можно открыть окно?» — «Да, открой». (support)
neg. + imperf. Не открывай ничего. (do not allow)

Feel yourself at home

Curiously enough, imperfectives are absolutely polite for a few common motion and action verbs used when inviting people:

  • Садитесь, пожалуйста = Please, sit down,
  • Приходите ещё! = Do come again.
  • Входите, пожалуйста. = Come in, please. (also «проходите», lit. "come through", and «заходите»)

I guess they can be formally classified as obvious but you can also just memorize the verbs.

положить ↔ поставить

There is a distinction in Russian between putting things in a random or "lying flat" position and "setting" them into a vertical or upright position. The last one is important for things that by design are supposed to have a "working" orientation even if they are flat (a plate, a cup, a box, a bed, a laptop etc.)

  • use ставить/поставить for a stable or vertical position (as a result, the object стоит)
  • use класть/положить for a flat, upset or random orientation (as a result, the object лежит)

Words

  • садитесь is commonly used as an invitation to sit down. Присаживайтесь is also very popular despite being usually recommended against (literally, it means to perform a squat or to sit down for a short while).