Today we’re learning Russian from a real comment on the internet:
Уже́ не те́рпится посмотре́ть весь вы́пуск!
(I can't wait to watch the whole episode!)
Meaning
So, what does the Russian expression ‘не те́рпится’ mean?
It means that you want something very much and find it difficult to wait any longer.
In English, common translations include:
- I can't wait
- I'm really looking forward to it
- I'm eager to...
Grammar note
To indicate who experiences this feeling, Russian uses the dative case:
- мне не те́рпится
- тебе́ не те́рпится
- ему́, ей не те́рпится
- нам не те́рпится
- вам не те́рпится
- им не те́рпится
The expression is normally used in the pattern:
dative case + не те́рпится + infinitive
Because this is an impersonal construction, the form не терпится remains fixed and does not change according to person, gender, or number.
Examples
Here are a few examples to see how this expression appears in real life:
- Мне не те́рпится тебя́ уви́деть! (I can't wait to see you!)
- Уча́стникам не те́рпится узна́ть результа́ты ко́нкурса. (The contestants can't wait to find out the results of the competition.)
From the media:
- Но́вые туре́цкие сериа́лы, кото́рые нам не те́рпится посмотре́ть. (New Turkish series we can't wait to watch.)
Forms
Past-tense form is possible, although less common:
Examples:
- Де́тям не терпе́лось откры́ть пода́рки. (The children couldn't wait to open their presents.)
- Мне не терпе́лось рассказа́ть всем э́ту но́вость. (I couldn't wait to tell everyone the news.)
What is something you can't wait to do right now? Tell me in the comments below!