Consonant mutation.
- Consonant mutation in
language refers to the change of one consonant into another under
certain conditions.
- In verbs, consonant mutation can occur on
the last consonant, or consonant cluster, of the verb stem. Not
every consonant can mutate into another consonant.
- The rules for
consonant mutation in Russian are very simple, and it is important
that you learn them early.
- First, look at the list of consonants that do mutate, and the consonants
into which they mutate.
- Consonants mutate into one of four consonants:
| д, з, г | ж |
| т, ц, к | ч |
| с, х | ш |
| ст, ск | щ |
- Consonant mutation in Russian occurs both in
conjugation I and conjugation II verbs.
- In conjugation I verbs
consonant mutation occurs when the stem ends in one of the
consonants listed above.
- Consonant mutation
takes place in all forms in the present/future tense. In this example the
consonant -с- mutates into the consonant -ш-.
| stem | ending |
| пис | -ать |
| я пиш | -у |
| ты пиш | -ешь |
| он, она пиш | -ет |
| мы пиш | -ем |
| вы пиш | -ете |
| они пиш | -ут |
- In
conjugation II verbs consonant mutation takes place only in the
first person singular (я) form. In the example below the consonant -д- mutates
into the consonant -ж-.
| stem | ending |
| приход | -ить |
| я прихож | -у |
| ты приход | -ишь |
| он, она приход | -ит |
| мы приход | -им |
| вы приход | -ите |
| они приход | -ят |
Exercises: 0027