Serbian Verb (Present Tense)
Learning how to change (inflect) verbs in the present tense is very important in Serbian. This is because the verb forms change depending on who is doing the action (person) and whether it’s one person or many (number). Understanding these changes will help you communicate clearly and effectively.
Why Learn Verb Inflections?
In Serbian, verbs change their endings based on person who is performing the action (I, you, he/she/it, we, you all, they).
Native speakers often don’t use personal pronouns (like “I” or “you”) when speaking in the present tense because you can already tell who is acting by looking at the verb’s ending. For example:
- Radim – I am working.
- Radiš – You are working.
You don’t need to say “Ja radim” (I am working) every time because “radim” already means “I am working.”
Before proceeding into the present tense, make sure you know the personal pronouns. If you’re not familiar with them yet, check out our Personal Pronouns Guide.
Present Tense Conjugation Rules
Serbian verbs in their infinitive form end with “ti” or “ći”. Learning these base forms helps you understand how to change them for different people and numbers.
General Steps to Conjugate Present Tense:
- Remove the “ti” or “ći” ending from the infinitive.
- Add the appropriate ending based on the person and number.
Endings for Verbs Ending with “ti”:
| Person | Ending |
| I | -m |
| You (singular) | -š |
| He/She/It | (no ending) |
| We | -mo |
| You (plural) | -te |
| They (ends with a) | -ju |
| They (ends with i) | i ➝ -e |
Example:
“kuvati“(to cook):
| Person | Form |
| I | kuvam |
| You (singular) | kuvaš |
| He/She/It | kuva |
| We | kuvamo |
| You (plural) | kuvate |
| They | kuvaju |
“raditi” (to work):
| Person | Form |
| I | radim |
| You (singular) | radiš |
| He/She/It | radi |
| We | radimo |
| You (plural) | radite |
| They | rade |
Endings for Verbs Ending with “ći”:
The rules are similar to “ti” verbs, but with slight variations after removing “ći.”
Example:
“ići” (to go):
| Person | Form |
| I | idem |
| You (singular) | ideš |
| He/She/It | ide |
| We | idemo |
| You (plural) | idete |
| They | idu |
Tip: Knowing the first person singular (I) form helps you learn the rest of the conjugations.
By looking at the verb’s ending, you can easily identify who is doing the action. This means you usually don’t need to use personal pronouns when speaking in the present tense.
Example Sentences
- I’m working – Radim.
- I’m going – Idem.
- I’m going to work – Idem da radim.
Using “da” to Connect Verbs:
The word “da” works like “to” in English, helping you connect verbs in a sentence.
- Example: Idem da kuvam. (I am going to cook.)
Key Points
- Before starting to learn the verb inflections, learn first the personal pronouns.
- Learn the specific endings for each person.
- Practicing to inflect will make it more natural at a later point.
Final Thoughts
Mastering the present tense in Serbian verbs is important for effective communication. Start by learning verbs in their infinitive form, understand how to change them based on who is doing the action, and practice regularly. With these simple rules and consistent practice, you’ll find Serbian verbs much easier to use and remember.
Tip: Focus on one verb at a time and practice changing its form with different pronouns. This will help you build confidence and improve your Serbian step by step.
