Breakdown of Мы проводим семинар вечером.
мы
we
вечером
in the evening
семинар
the seminar
проводить
to hold
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Questions & Answers about Мы проводим семинар вечером.
What does the verb form in мы проводи́м tell us (tense/aspect/person)?
It is first-person plural, present tense of the imperfective verb проводить (“to conduct/run/hold”). The imperfective present can mean:
- a scheduled near-future event: “We’re holding a seminar this evening.”
- a habitual action: “We hold the seminar in the evening.”
Partner verb: perfective провести́ (“to conduct/hold to completion”). Key forms of проводить: я провожу́, ты проводи́шь, он/она проводи́т, мы проводи́м, вы проводи́те, они прово́дят.
Why is it ве́чером and not в ве́чер?
Russian uses the instrumental singular to express broad times of day without a preposition: у́тром, днём, ве́чером, но́чью. So you say ве́чером (“in the evening”), not в ве́чер (incorrect). To point to a specific evening, use a determiner: в э́тот ве́чер, в тот ве́чер, or combine both: в пя́тницу ве́чером (“on Friday evening”).
What case is семина́р, and why doesn’t it change?
Семина́р is the direct object (accusative singular). It’s an inanimate masculine noun, and for inanimate masculines the accusative singular equals the nominative singular, so it appears unchanged: семина́р.
Does ве́чером mean “this evening” or “in the evenings”?
Alone, ве́чером is context-dependent:
- upcoming/this evening if you’re talking about today’s plan;
- “in the evening” as a general time frame. To be explicit:
- “this evening”: сего́дня ве́чером
- “in the evenings” (habit): по вечера́м or вечера́ми
- “that evening”: в тот ве́чер
How do I say a single planned event clearly in the future?
Use the perfective future of провести́:
- Мы проведём семина́р сего́дня ве́чером. = We will hold the seminar this evening. The scheduled-present alternative is also common:
- Сего́дня ве́чером мы проводи́м семина́р. Perfective future stresses completion/result; imperfective present stresses schedule/process.
Can I change the word order?
Yes; all are correct, with slight differences in emphasis:
- Ве́чером мы проводи́м семина́р. (time first; very common)
- Мы ве́чером проводи́м семина́р. (time in the middle)
- Мы проводи́м семина́р ве́чером. (neutral; object before time) Russian word order mainly reflects what you want to highlight, not grammatical correctness.
Can I omit мы?
Often yes, if context makes the subject obvious: Проводи́м семина́р ве́чером. This clipped style is common in schedules, notes, or replies where “we” is understood. In neutral conversation many speakers still keep мы.
Where are the stresses, and how should I pronounce the sentence?
Stresses: Мы проводи́м семина́р ве́чером.
- проводи́м: stress on -ди́-
- семина́р: stress on the last syllable
- ве́чером: stress on the first syllable A rough guide: “my prah-vah-DEEM see-mee-NAR VYE-cheh-ruhm” (with Russian ы in мы, not English “ee”).
Are there good synonyms for проводить семинар, and how do they differ?
- проводить семина́р: to run/hold the seminar (the event actually takes place).
- вести́ семина́р: to lead the seminar (you’re the instructor/moderator).
- организо́вывать/организова́ть семина́р: to organize it (logistics/planning).
- устра́ивать/устро́ить семина́р: to arrange/put on a seminar. Note: for lectures, you often say чита́ть ле́кцию; for seminars, вести́ is preferred.
How do I say “We have a seminar in the evening”?
Very natural:
- У нас ве́чером семина́р. This is common for schedules/announcements and is often preferred over a full verb sentence.
How do I express a habitual pattern like “We hold seminars in the evenings”?
- Мы проводи́м семина́ры по вечера́м.
- Вечера́ми мы проводи́м семина́ры.
- Мы ка́ждый ве́чер проводи́м семина́ры.
Why not say вве́чером or use во before ве́чером?
Because ве́чером already encodes “in the evening” via the instrumental; no preposition is used. Forms like в ве́чер, вве́чером, or во ве́чером are incorrect. You do use в with specific references: в э́тот ве́чер, в семь часо́в, в пя́тницу.
What’s the difference between семина́р and ле́кция?
- семина́р: interactive, discussion/problem-solving session (university or professional workshop).
- ле́кция: lecture (one speaker, mostly one-way).
- заня́тие: general word for a class/session.
How do I put the sentence in the past?
- Repeated/habitual in the past: Мы проводили семина́р ве́чером.
- One completed event: Мы провели́ семина́р ве́чером.
How do I say “by evening” or “toward evening”?
- к ве́черу = by/toward evening: Мы зако́нчим к ве́черу.
- Informal “this evening/tonight-ish”: вечерко́м: Вечерко́м встре́тимся.