Time & Sequence: Russian Function Words

Putting events in order

снача́ла first, at first

Opens a sequence. Not the same as во-пе́рвых, which numbers arguments rather than events.

Снача́ла позвони́, пото́м приезжа́й. First call, then come over.

пото́м then, afterwards

The everyday “then”, and the one to reach for by default.

Мы пое́ли, пото́м пошли́ гуля́ть. We ate, then went for a walk.

зате́м then, next

The formal twin of пото́м. Written instructions and reports.

Зате́м нажми́те кно́пку. Then press the button.

наконе́ц finally, at last

Closes a sequence, and often carries relief.

Наконе́ц мы до́ма. We are finally home.

тогда́ then, in that case

Either “at that time” or “in that case”, decided entirely by context.

Тогда́ я был студе́нтом. I was a student then.

Already, still, yet

уже́ already

The situation has changed and reached the state described.

Он уже́ пришёл. He has already arrived.

ещё still, yet, more

The situation has NOT changed yet. Also means “another”: ещё оди́н.

Он ещё рабо́тает. He is still working.

ещё не not yet

The expected change has not happened, and is still expected.

Я ещё не гото́в. I am not ready yet.

уже́ не no longer

The change has happened and the state has ENDED.

Он уже́ не рабо́тает здесь. He no longer works here.

Now, soon, long ago

сейча́с now, right now

This very moment, or the immediate future: “I am coming”.

Сейча́с я за́нят. I am busy right now.

тепе́рь now, nowadays

Now AS OPPOSED TO BEFORE. It implies a change of state.

Тепе́рь я понима́ю. Now I understand.

ско́ро soon

Near future, unspecified.

Ско́ро начнётся дождь. It will start raining soon.

давно́ long ago, for a long time

With a present-tense verb it means “for a long time up to now”.

Я давно́ здесь живу́. I have lived here a long time.

неда́вно recently, not long ago

The direct opposite of давно́.

Мы неда́вно познако́мились. We met recently.

While, until, suddenly

пока́ while, for now

As a conjunction “while”; on its own in speech it is a casual “bye”.

Пока́ он спит, я порабо́таю. While he sleeps, I will do some work.

пока́ не until

пока́ plus не means “until”, and the не is NOT a negative here.

Жди, пока́ не позвоню́. Wait until I call.

вдруг suddenly

A sudden turn. In a question it softens into “what if”.

Вдруг зазвони́л телефо́н. Suddenly the phone rang.

сра́зу immediately, at once

No delay between one event and the next.

Он сра́зу по́нял. He understood immediately.

Choosing between them

These comparisons are the reason this page exists. A function word is rarely hard to translate; it is hard to choose.

уже́ against ещё, and their negatives

Positive, they are opposites: уже́ means the change has happened, ещё means it has not. Negated, they do NOT simply flip, they cross over. ещё не is “not yet”, the change is still expected: Я ещё не гото́в. уже́ не is “no longer”, the state has ended: Он уже́ не рабо́тает. So уже́ не is the negative of ещё, and ещё не is the negative of уже́. Learn the four as a square, not as two words.

сейча́с against тепе́рь

Both are “now”. сейча́с is the clock: this moment, or in a minute. тепе́рь is the contrast with before: something has changed, and this is how things stand as a result. Тепе́рь я понима́ю means “I did not understand before, and now I do”, which Сейча́с я понима́ю does not say. Given a choice and no change of state, сейча́с is the safer word.

пока́ against пока́ не

пока́ alone means “while”, and the two actions overlap: Пока́ он спит, я рабо́таю. пока́ не means “until”, and the second action ENDS the first: Жди, пока́ не позвоню́. The не there is not a negation and must not be translated as one; it is simply part of how Russian builds “until”.