Comparison of the Uses of Verbs of Motion

Unidirectional Multidirectional

1. Он идёт по у́лице. 

At the moment of speaking or obervation the agent is moving in one direction.

1. Он хо́дит по у́лице. 

At the moment of speaking or obervation the agent is moving in various directions.

2. Он идёт в шко́лу.

At the moment of speaking or obervation the agent is moving towards his destination.

2. Он хо́дит в шко́лу.

Repeated (habitual) movement of the agent to his destination including a stay in the place concerned. The verb “хо́дит” is synonymous with the verb “быва́ет” or “посеща́ет”.

3. Вчера́ он шёл в шко́лу и встре́тил дру́га.

In the past and future tenses these forms denote momentaneuos movement in one direction and are generally used in descriptive passages.

3. Вчера́ он ходи́л в шко́лу.

In the past tense this form denotes the agent’s momentaneous movement in two different directions - there and back. The verb “ходи́л” is synonymous with the verb “был”.

4a. Ка́ждый день он шёл в шко́лу ми́мо на́шего до́ма. Обы́чно по́сле заня́тий он идёт домо́й.

The verb either denotes repeated movement in one direction or stresses the fact that movement takes place only in one direction - only there or only back.

4b. Ка́ждое у́тро он встава́л ра́но, за́втракал и шёл на рабо́ту.

When consecutive actions are implied, movement may be represented as taking place in one direction only.

4. Ка́ждый день он ходи́л в шко́лу ми́мо на́шего до́ма.

The verb denotes the agent’s repeated movement in two different directions - there and back.

5. За́втра он идёт в теа́тр.

A special use of the present tense form with the future meaning.

5. Ребёнок уже́ хо́дит.

The verb denotes the agent’s ability to move.