Breakdown of Ты вчера брал мой новый утюг?
ты
you (singular)
новый
new
мой
my / mine
вчера
yesterday
брать
to take (imperfective)
утюг
iron (for clothes)
Questions & Answers about Ты вчера брал мой новый утюг?
Why use the imperfective брал here instead of the perfective взял?
This sentence is a classic example of the annulled result in Russian. By using the imperfective брал, the speaker implies that the action was a two-way trip: the person took the iron, but they have already put it back. The result of taking it has been annulled.
If the iron is currently missing, would I still use this sentence?
No. If the speaker is looking for the missing iron right now, they would use the perfective verb and ask Ты взял мой новый утюг? because the result of the action (the iron being gone) is still actively in effect.
Does the time word вчера (yesterday) automatically trigger the imperfective aspect?
Not automatically. While time words are very common with the imperfective when simply establishing the general fact that an event happened, you could absolutely use the perfective взял with вчера if the iron was taken yesterday and is still missing today.
Does this mean брал is a good way to translate the English concept of borrowing?
Yes! Because the imperfective past of this verb naturally implies taking something and eventually returning it, Ты брал...? is the most common way to ask Did you borrow...? in everyday situations. This annulled result structure perfectly fills the gap for the English concept of borrowing.
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