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Russian grammar - The first person imperative - Let's

The first person imperative - Let's

Russian also has a first person plural imperative construction, which is equivalent to the English 'let's'.

It is used to suggest to someone that you do something together.

If the verb is imperfective, you use the word давай (singular) or давайте (plural) and the verb in the infinitive:

If the verb is perfective, you use the first person plural (we) form of the verb

-- давай / давайте can optionally be added.

-- With some verbs addressing a number of persons or speaking in the formal tone the ending -те must be added.

Examples:
Пойдём в парк.
Let's (plural) go to the park.

Perfective

Давай поможем маме.
Let's (informal) help mom.

Perfective with давай added

Давайте играть в шахматы.
Let's (formal) play chess.

Imperfective

Давайте смотреть новый фильм.
Let's (formal) watch the new movie.

Imperfective

Сходим в кино?
Shall we go to the cinema?

Perfective

Поговорим по-русски!
Let's (plural) speak Russian!

Perfective

Пойдёмте туда вместе?
Shall we go there together?

Perfective

<-те> added

Пойдёмте пообедаем в ресторане!
Let's (formal) go have lunch in a restaurant!

Perfective

<-те> added

Давай посмотрим телевизор?
Shall (informal) we watch TV?

Perfective with давай added