A Study on the Temporality of Russian Determinate/Indeterminate Verbs: Focus on the Present and Past Tense

This study analyzes the temporal characteristics of determinate and indeterminate verbs of motion in Russian to identify their semantic differences in expressing movement. While previous research has primarily focused on directionality, this study systematically examines temporality as one of the core semantic categories. By comparing the temporal semantic types of determinate and indeterminate verbs in the present and past tenses, this study explores the interaction between temporality, directionality, and spatiality. The findings indicate that determinate verbs primarily exhibit [+Simultaneity] in the present tense and tend to exhibit [-Actuality] in the past tense. In contrast, indeterminate verbs consistently exhibit [-Actuality] across tenses, with their directional characteristics playing a pivotal role in the expression of movement. This research reexamines the role of temporality in the Russian verbal system, contributing to a deeper understanding of the semantic properties of determinate and indeterminate verbs.