Я жду такси уже полчаса.

I have already been waiting for the taxi for half an hour.

Breakdown of Я жду такси уже полчаса.

• я: I
• уже: already
• такси: the taxi
• ждать: to wait for

Questions & Answers about Я жду такси уже полчаса.

Why is жду used if the English translation is am waiting?

Because Russian does not have a separate tense for I wait vs. I am waiting.

The verb ждать is imperfective, and its present-tense form я жду can mean:

• I wait
• I am waiting

So in this sentence, я жду naturally means an action that is happening right now.

What is the dictionary form of жду?

The dictionary form is ждать = to wait.

Жду is the 1st person singular form, so:

• я жду — I wait / I am waiting
• ты ждёшь — you wait
• он/она ждёт — he/she waits
• мы ждём — we wait
• вы ждёте — you wait
• они ждут — they wait

So жду simply means I wait / I am waiting.

Why is there no word for English for in wait for a taxi?