_________________________________

It is advisable you wait until you can recite the complete conjugation of Type 1 verbs before moving onto this next section. If you try to learn both at once it might be difficult to compartmentalise the different types of verbs in your memory.

Type 2 verbs introduce a slight variation to the conjugation process. The stem still stays constant, but some of the suffixes are different to Type 1 verbs.

Here is a summary of Type 2 verb suffixes organised by pronoun:

Pronoun	Type 2 Verb Suffix
I	-ю
You (informal)	-ишь
He / she / it	-ит
We	-им
You (formal or plural)	-ите
They	-ят

_________________________________

The main difference is that the "е" in the suffixes becomes "и".

Also notice the conjugated suffix for (They) is -ят, instead of -ют for Type 1 verbs.

Again, it is easiest to learn these suffixes if you organise lists of verbs by pronoun, and then learn the suffix associated with each pronoun.

For example,

You can practice conjugating with the pronoun ты:

You speak

ты говоришь (stem говор-, suffix -ишь)

Pronounced:

tih ga-var-EEsh

Listen:

(Lena)

You see

ты видишь (stem вид-, suffix -ишь)

Pronounced:

tih vEE-dish

Listen:

(Lena)

You smoke (cigarettes)

ты куришь (stem кур-, suffix -ишь)

Pronounced:

tih kOOr-ish

Listen:

(Lena)

Or, for example, you can practice with the pronoun они:

They speak

они говорят (stem говор-, suffix -ят)

Pronounced:

a-nI ga-var-yAt

Listen:

(Lena)

They see

они видят (stem вид-, suffix -ят)

Pronounced:

a-nI vEE-dyat

Listen:

(Lena)

They smoke (cigarettes)

они курят (stem кур-, suffix -ят)

Pronounced:

a-nI kOOr-yat

Listen:

(Lena)

As you can see, the actual conjugation of verbs isn't too difficult, though it does become more challenging when you try to do it on the fly (while speaking).

To conjugate verbs while speaking you have to know the stem of the verb really well, ..so say it over and over and over again until you know it as well as your own name.

And you also have to know the conjugation suffixes like the back of your hand. It won't happen overnight but it will happen :)

How do you know if a verb is Type 1 or Type 2?

I have looked through textbooks and the internet for an answer to this question, but I can't find any discussion of this topic. Therefore, please treat the following as a work-in-progress until an expert can give me confirmation that my perceptions are correct.

Let's have a look at the infinitive structure of Type 1 and 2 verbs:

Type 1

понимать
знать
работать
читать
изучать
думать

Type 2

говорить
курить
верить
видеть
сидеть

Notice that Type 1 verbs end with -ать, while Type 2 verbs end with -ить or -еть.

There are also a few verbs that end with -ять. They can be either Type 1 or Type 2 and you just have to memorise which category they fall into.

For example,

гулять (to stroll / casual walk; Type 1)
стоять (to stand; Type 2)