|
Verbs зайти and войти
|
|
| Kelly | Date: Tuesday, 2010-04-27, 5:31 PM | Message # 1 |
|
Group: Guests
| Hello, everybody!
I am trying to find out the differnce between 2 Russian verbs 'зайти' and 'войти' in the phrase "Он зашёл в комнату" or "Он вошёл в комнату". I want to say: He entered the room.
Thank you! 
|
|
| |
| Natasha | Date: Wednesday, 2010-04-28, 9:32 AM | Message # 2 |
|
Group: Admin
Messages: 10
Status: Offline
| These verbs are called verbs of motion , and they have very similar meaning like English ‘come in’ and ‘enter’ . In this phrase you can use either of them. I would say the verb with prefix в (входить, войти) is more formal.
But , the verb with prefix за (зайти, заходить) has another meaning – to drop by, and if you need that meaning, you cannot replace it with the verb with prefix в (входить, войти).
Вчера я зашла в гости к подруге. = Yesterday I dropped by at my friend's place.
|
|
| |
| Kelly | Date: Wednesday, 2010-04-28, 10:30 PM | Message # 3 |
|
Group: Guests
| Thank you, Natasha, for your reply. But I just want to clarify. If I want to be polite, I should use 'вошёл' rather than 'зашёл' ?
|
|
| |
| Natasha | Date: Thursday, 2010-04-29, 9:02 AM | Message # 4 |
|
Group: Admin
Messages: 10
Status: Offline
| No, no. For this particular sentence those two verbs are equal. When I said more formal, I meant that in the formal settings the verb 'войти' is more appropriate. For example, in the doctor's office the receptionist says: 'входите!'.
Both verbs are polite. 
|
|
| |
| Kelly | Date: Thursday, 2010-04-29, 10:18 PM | Message # 5 |
|
Group: Guests
| Thank you, Natasha. It was very helpful!
|
|
| |
| Guest | Date: Sunday, 2010-11-14, 4:16 PM | Message # 6 |
|
Group: Guests
| Thank you.
|
|
| |
