BCS Verbs Flashcards
Pjevati
Pjevam, pjevaš, pjeva, pjevamo, pjevate, pjevaju
Pjevao, pjevala
Pjevaj, pjevajte
To sing
Leći (perfective)
Legnem, legneš, legne, legnemo, legnete, legnu
Legao, legla
Lezi, lezite
To lie down (perfective)
The perf. verb – it’s really ‘inchoative’, describing entering a state –corresponds to English lie down. It’s used with optional destinations: Goran je legao. Goran has lain down.
Goran je legao na pod. Goran has lain down on the floor.
† The present adverb ležeći is also used as a true adjective, meaning lying. For example, the phrase ležeći policajac, lit. ‘lying policeman’ is used for a speed bump.
Ležati (imperfective)
Ležim, ležiš. leži, ležimo, ležite, leže
Ležao, ležala
Leži, ležite
To lie down or recline
The impf. verb is used with optional locations: Goran leži. Goran is lying down.
Goran leži na podu. Goran is lying on the floor.
Plakati
Plačem, plačeš, plače, plačemo, plačete, plaču
Plakao, plakala
Plači, plačite
To cry
Skakati
Skačem, skačeš, skače, skačemo, skačete, skaču
Skakao, skakala
Skači, skačite
To jump
Plesati
Plešem, plešeš, pleše, plešemo, plešete, plešu
Plesao, plesala
Pleši, plešite
To dance
Tražiti
Tražim, tražiš.traži, tražimo, tražite, traže
Tražio, tražila
Traži, tražite
To search or look for
With certain abstract nouns, it corresponds to English ask for: Goran je tražio pomoć. Goran asked for help.
Tražiti se: to look for oneself (to find oneself)
Odrezati (perfective)
Prerezati (perfective)
odrežem, odrežeš, odreže, odrežemo, odrežete, odrežu
odrezao, odrezala
Odreži, odrežite
Odrezati - cutting a smaller piece from a larger piece (slice of bread)
Prerezati - cutting something in two
This pair has two perfective verbs: one with od- expresses cutting of a smaller piece from a larger piece (e.g. a slice of bread), while one with pre- means just cutting something in two (e.g. a rope).
Both perf. verbs have exactly the same form, just the prefix is different
Rezati (imperfective)
Režem, režeš, reže, režemo, režete, režu
Rezao, rezala
reži, režite
to cut (trim, carve, engrave)
Poznati (perfective)
Poznam, poznaš, pozna, poznamo, poznate, poznaju
Poznao, poznala
Poznaj, poznajte
To know, be familiar with (recognize) - people and cities only.
The passive adjective poznat is used as a common adjective, well-known.
Poznavati (Imperfective)
Poznajem, poznaješ, poznaje, poznajemo, poznajete, poznaju
Poznavao, poznavala
to know or be familiar with (people and cities)
Doći (perfective)
Dođem, dođeš, dođe, dođemo, dođete, dođu
Došao, došla
Dođi, dođite
to come or arrive (imperfective)
Goran je došao u sobu. Goran came to the room.
Goran je došao s igrališta. Goran came from the playground.
As with other verbs of motion, if someone came somewhere to pick up something or pick/get someone, it can be expressed with po ̈ + A:
Goran je došao po čistu majicu. Goran came to take a clean T-shirt. Ana je došla po Gorana. Ana came to get Goran.
The idea is: you came somewhere to take something or someone with you.
Also, as with other verbs of motion, if someone came somewhere to do something, it can be expressed with inf, and objects etc. can be added to it: Goran je došao popiti vode. Goran came to drink some water.
Dolaziti (imperfective)
Dolazim, dolaziš, dolazi, dolazimo dolazite, dolaze
Dolazio, dolazila
Dolazi, dolazite
to come or arrive (imperfective)
Goran je došao u sobu. Goran came to the room.
Goran je došao s igrališta. Goran came from the playground.
As with other verbs of motion, if someone came somewhere to pick up something or pick/get someone, it can be expressed with po ̈ + A:
Goran je došao po čistu majicu. Goran came to take a clean T-shirt. Ana je došla po Gorana. Ana came to get Goran.
The idea is: you came somewhere to take something or someone with you.
Also, as with other verbs of motion, if someone came somewhere to do something, it can be expressed with inf, and objects etc. can be added to it: Goran je došao popiti vode. Goran came to drink some water.
Otići (perfective)
Odem, odeš, ode, odemo, odete, odu
Otišao, otišla
Odi, odite
To leave or exit (places) (perfective)
Odlaziti (imperfective)
Odlazim, odlaziš, odlazi, odlazimo, odlazite, odlaze
Odlazio, odlazila
Odlazi, odlazite
To leave or exit (places) (imperfective)
This verb pair is used with optional destinations and origins (unlike the English for, no specific prepositions are used). It also often corresponds to English go:
Goran je otišao u sobu. Goran has gone to the room.
Goran odlazi s igrališta. Goran is leaving the playground. (Croatian: an origin!)
Unlike English, this pair cannot be used with simple objects: you have to use origins. As with other verbs of motion, if someone left to pick up something or someone, !
it can be expressed with po ̈ + A:
Goran je otišao po čistu majicu. Goran has gone to get a clean T-shirt.
Ana je otišla po Gorana. Ana left to get Goran.
Otputovati (perfective)
Doputovati (perfective)
Ot: perfective of putovati (also means depart)
Do: come by travel (arrived)
There are two perfective verbs, but they don’t have exactly the same meaning, they rather form a go-come pair: the verb derived with ot- is simply the perfective version of the impf. verb; it covers depart as well.
The perf. verb derived with do- is used in situations where the English come can be used to; it’s essentially come by traveling.
The verbs are used with destinations and optionally origins:
Putujemo u Split. We’re traveling to Split.
Otputovali smo u Split. We’ve departed to Split. Doputovali smo u Split. We’ve arrived in Split.
These verbs use ‘round trip’ time periods, i.e. na ̈ + period, meaning you will return after that time period:
Otputovali smo na tri dana u Split.
We’ve departed to Split to spend three days there.
Putovati (imperfective)
Putujem, putuješ, putuje, putujemo, putujete, putuju
Putovao, putovala
Putuj, putujte
To travel (imperfective)
Brijati se (imperfective)
Brijem, briješ, brije, brijemo, brijete, briju
Brijao, brijala
Brij, brijte
To shave
Obrijati se (perfective)
Obrijem, obriješ, obrije, obrijemo, obrijete, obriju
Obrijao, obrijala
Obrij, obrijte
To shave
Se is used when you are shaving yourself
Prati (imperfective)
Oprati (perfective)
Perem, pereš, pere, peremo, perete, peru
Prao, prala
Peri, perite
To wash
Se is used when washing yourself.
Buditi (imperfective)
Probuditi (perfective)
Budi, budiš, budi, budimo, budite, bude
Budio, budila
Budi, budite
To wake up
se; the meaning is ‘somebody wakes up on his or her own’:
Goran se budi. Goran is waking up.
Goran se probudio. Goran woke up.
This verb pair can be also used with an object in A, when someone is waking / has woken someone else up:
Ana je probudila Gorana. Ana has woken Goran up.
Obući (perfective)
Obučem, obučeš, obuče, obučemo, obučete, obuku
Obukao, obukala
Obuci, obucite
To put clothes on (get dressed) (perfective)
Goran je obukao majicu. Goran has put his T-shirt on.
Ana je obukla Goranu majicu. Ana has put a T-shirt on Goran.
Oblačiti (imperfective)
Oblačim, oblačiš, oblači, oblačimo, oblačite, oblače
Oblačio, oblačila
Oblači, oblačite
To put clothes on (get dressed) (imperfective)
Se is used when you are dressing yourself.
Svući (perfective)
Svučem, svučeš, svuče, svučemo, svučete, svuku
Svukao, svukla
Svuci, svucite
To take clothes off, undress (perfective)
Svlačiti (imperfective)
Svlačim, svlačiš, svlači, svlačimo, svlačite, svlače
Svlačio, svlačila
Svlači, svlačite
To take clothes off or undress (imperfective)
Se is used when undressing yourself.
Vratiti (perfective)
Vratim, vratiš, vrati, vratimo, vratite, vrate
Vratio, vratila
Vrati, vratite
To return or come back (perfective)
This verb pair can be used with an object in A, and an optional recipient in DL:
Ana je vratila knjigu. Ana has returned the book.
Ana je vratila knjigu Ivani. Ana has returned the book to Ivana.
When used with se, the pair means that the subject returns, i.e. comes back: se Vraćamo se sutra. We’re coming back tomorrow.
Vraćati (imperfective)
Vraćam, vraćaš, vraća, vraćamo, vraćate, vraćaju
Vraćao, vraćala
Vraćaj, vraćajte
To return or come back
This verb pair can be used with an object in A, and an optional recipient in DL:
Ana je vratila knjigu. Ana has returned the book.
Ana je vratila knjigu Ivani. Ana has returned the book to Ivana.
When used with se, the pair means that the subject returns, i.e. comes back: se Vraćamo se sutra. We’re coming back tomorrow.
Zvati (zove)
Zovem, zoveš, zove, zovemo, zovete, zovu
Zvao, Zvala
Zovi, zovite
Call (name)
Ana zove Ivanu. Ana is calling Ivana.
With the use of “se”, both the subject and the name are in N:
Zovem se Ivan. My name is Ivan. (lit. ‘I’m called Ivan.’)
Ona se zove Marija. Her name is Marija. (lit. ‘She’s called Marija.’)
Zabaviti (perfective)
Zabavim, zabaviš, zabavi, zabavimo, zabavite,
Zabavio, zabavila
Zabavi, zabavite
To entertain
To have fun (with “se”)
Zabavljati (imperfective)
Zabavljam, zabavljas, zabavlja, zabavljamo, zabavljate, zabavljaju
Zabavljao, zabavljala
zabavljaj, zabavljajte
To entertain
To have fun (with “se”)
This verb pair can be used with an object in A, when it means that someone entertains someone (an object in A):
GoranN zabavlja Anu. Goran entertains Ana.
With a se, the meaning shifts a bit to have fun: Goran se zabavlja. Goran is having fun.
The agent nouns are zabavljač m / zabavljačica f entertainer.
There’s a related adjective zabavan (zabavn-) entertaining, fun:
Film je jako zabavan. The movie is very entertaining.
Svirati (imperfective) Odsvirati (perfective)
Zasvirati (started)
Sviram, sviraš, svira, sviramo, svirate, sviraju
Svirao, svirala
Sviraj, svirajte
to play an instrument
The impf verb used with an optional object in A, which can be a song or an instrument:
Ana svira. Ana is playing.
Ana svira gitaru. Ana is playing a guitar.
Like in English, the verbs have ‘middle’ use without a se:
Svirala je neka dosadna glazba. Some boring music was playing.
In the last example, the subject was placed after the verb, to emphasize indefiniteness.
Two perfective verbs are a perfective completion verb, for playing something to the end, and an ‘inchoative’ verb, meaning start playing. The completion verb, as usual, requires an object in A:
Ana je zasvirala. Ana started playing (music).
Goran je odsvirao pjesmu. Goran has played a song. (from start to end)
The agent nouns are svirač m / sviračica f musician.
Smijati (smije) se
Smijem, smiješ, smije, smijemo, smijete, smiju
Smijao, smijala
Smij, smijte
To laugh
This verb is always used with se; to laugh at somebody/something, use DL:
Goran se smije. Goran is laughing.
Goran se smije Ani. Goran is laughing at Ana.
Puhnuti (perfective)
Puhnem, puhneš, puhne, puhnemo, puhnete, puhnu
Puhnuo, puhnula
Puhni, puhnite
To blow
Puhati (imperfective)
Pušem, pušeš, puše, pušemo, pušete, pušu
Puhao, puhala
Puši, pušite
To blow
Izgledati
Izgledam, izgledaš, izgleda, izgledamo, izgledate, izgledaju
Izgledao, izgledala
Izgledaj, izgledajte
Appear, seem, look
This verb is usually used with adverbs, describing how someone looks:
Izgledaš odlično. You look great!
A content clause (starting with da) can be the subject, meaning it seems that…:
Izgleda [da će padati kišaJ. It seems [it’s going to rain].
Izgledalo je [da će padati kiša]. It seemed [it was going to rain]
Dati (perfective)
Dam, daš, da, damo, date, daju
Dao, dala
Daj ,dajte
To give
Ana je dala knjigu Ivani: Ana has given the book to Ivana.
With a se, it gets mediopassive meaning, that is, something (in N) is given: Injekcija se daje u ruku . The injection is given in the arm.
This pair is not used to ‘give’ a speech, a lecture, etc; use držati (drži) hold; keep.
Davati (Imperfective)
Dajem, daješ, daje, dajemo, dajete, daju
Davao, davala
Daji, dajite
To give
Nuditi (imperfective)
Ponuditi (perfective)
Nudim, nudiš, nudi, nudimo, nudite, nude
Nudio, nudila
Nudi, nudite
To offer
Ana nudi Goranu jabuku. Ana is offering Goran an apple.
Slati (Imperfective)
Poslati (perfective)
Šaljem, šalješ, šalje, šaljemo, šaljete, šalju
Slao, slala
Šalji, šaljite
To send
Ana je poslala Ivani poruku: Ana has sent a message to Ivana.
The matching verbs on the receiving side are primati ~ primiti receive or more colloquial, dobivati («) ~ dobiti (dobije) get (a thing, a message, an idea).
Prodati (perfective)
Prodam, prodaš, proda, prodamo, prodate, prodaju
Prodao, prodala
Prodaj, prodajte
To sell (perfective)
Imperative: prodavaj is actually more common.
** There’s no regular perf. verbal noun, prodaja is used when needed.
Ana je prodala kuću. Ana has sold the house.
Ana je prodala kuću Marku. Ana has sold the house to Marko.
With a se, in the present tense it corresponds to English on sale and Spanish se venda:
Kuća se prodaje. The house is on sale. (lit. ‘is being sold’)
Nouns are prodavač m / prodavačica f seller, always used for people who work in shops.
Prodavati (imperfective)
Prodajem, prodaješ, prodaje, prodajemo, prodajete, prodaju
Prodavao, prodavala
Prodaji, prodajite
To sell (imperfective)
mperative: prodavaj is actually more common.
** There’s no regular perf. verbal noun, prodaja is used when needed.
Ana je prodala kuću. Ana has sold the house.
Ana je prodala kuću Marku. Ana has sold the house to Marko.
With a se, in the present tense it corresponds to English on sale and Spanish se venda:
Kuća se prodaje. The house is on sale. (lit. ‘is being sold’)
Nouns are prodavač m / prodavačica f seller, always used for people who work in shops.
Pokloniti (perfective)
Poklonim, pokloniš, pokloni, poklonimo, poklonite, poklone
Poklonio, poklonila
Pokloni, poklonite
To gift or donate (perfectve)
Poklanjati (imperfective)
Poklanjam, poklanjaš, poklanja, poklanjamo, poklanjate, poklanjaju
Poklanjao, poklanjala
Poklanjaj, poklanjajte
To gift or donate (imperfective)
Pomagati
Pomažem, pomažeš.pomaže, pomažemo, pomažete, pomaže
Pomagao, pomagala
Pomaži, pomažite
To help (imperfective)
Ana pomaže Goranu. Ana is helping Goran.
Ana je pomogla Goranu otvoriti kutiju. Ana has helped Goran open the box.
Ana je pomogla Goranu [da otvori kutiju]. (the same meaning)
The subject of the clause must be the same as the recipient of help in DL. The agent nouns are pomagač m / pomagačica f helper.
Pomoći (perfective)
pomognem, pomogneš, pomogne, pomognemo, pomognete, pomognu
Pomogao, pomogala
Pomozi, pomozite
To help (perfective)
Ana pomaže Goranu. Ana is helping Goran.
Ana je pomogla Goranu otvoriti kutiju. Ana has helped Goran open the box.
Ana je pomogla Goranu [da otvori kutiju]. (the same meaning)
The subject of the clause must be the same as the recipient of help in DL. The agent nouns are pomagač m / pomagačica f helper.
Pripasti (perfective)
Pripadnem, pripadneš, pripadne, pripadnemo, pripadnete, pripadnu
Pripao, pripala
Pripadni, pripadnite
To belong (use with dative)
The verb pripasti (pripadne) is ‘inchoative’, describing entering a state, and it’s hard to translate it to English:
Uloga je pripala Ani. The role belongs to Ana or Ana got the role.
Pripadati (imperfective)
Pripadam, pripadaš, pripadi, pripadamo, pripadate, pripadaju
Pripadao, pripadala
Pripadaj, pripadajte
to belong to (use with dative)
(the car belongs to Goran)
Bojati (boji) se²
Bojim, bojiš, boji, bojimo, bojite, boje
Bojao, bojala
Boj, bojte
To be afraid (of, use genitiv)
This verb is always used with a se.
It can be used with objects in G, indicating the source of fear: Goran se boji pasa. Goran is afraid of dogs.
Ana se boji [da će biti hladno]. Ana is afraid [(that) it will be cold]
Sjetiti se (perfective)
Sjetim, sjetiš, sjeti, sjetimo, sjetite, sjete
Sjetio, sjetila
Sjeti, sjetite
to remember/have memories of (use genitiv)
to come to mind (perfective)
This verb pair is virtually always used with se
The ‘inchoative’ verb sjetiti se in past tense is often used to express that you have
recalled something just now (and previously you couldn’t): Sjetila sam se [gdje je auto]. I remember now [where the car is]
Sjećati se (imperfective)
Sjećam, sjećaš, sjeća, sjećamo, sjećate, sjećaju
Sjećao, sjećala
Sjećaj, sjećajte
to remember/have memories of (use genitiv)
to come to mind or recall(imperfective)
This verb pair is virtually always used with se
Unlike English, Croatian distinguishes storing into memory from retrieving something from memory; this verb pair expresses only retrieving. If you can get a fact from your memory, it’s expressed with the impf. verb and a content clause (using any tense):
Sjećam se [gdje je auto]. I recall [where the car is]. (I can get it from my memory)
This verb has ‘inchoative’ meaning, since from the moment you recall something, you are aware of it. Therefore, it corresponds to English come to mind.
Shvatiti (perfective)
Shvatim, shvatiš, shvati, shvatimo, shvatite, shvate
Shvatio, shvatila
Shvati, shvatite
To understand, comprehend, realize
This verb pair can be used with an object (a person or something you understand A or not) in A:
Ana nije shvatila problem. Ana didn’t understand the problem. IvanaN shvaća AnuA. Ivana understands Ana.
The verbs are often used with content clauses, starting with da, and using any tense:
AnaN shvaća [da nema dovoljno novcaG].
Ana understands [she doesn’t have enough money].
In imperative, the inchoative verb is almost always used:
Shvati toA! Understand that!
Shvaćati (imperfective)
Shvaćam, shvaćas, shvaća, shvaćamo, shvaćate, shvaćaju
Shvaćao
Shvaćala
to understand, comprehend or realize
(except when you don’t understand something because of the bad phone line, you are not familiar with the word, or you poorly know the language – you cannot use shvaćati then. Only razumjeti includes recognizing of words and sounds, either spoken or written)
Osjećati
To feel (When used just with an object in A, it means feel something, an object, or something more abstract, e.g. pain. But when used with a se² and an adverb, it describes how someone feels:
Ana se osjeća odlično. Ana feels great.
Osjećam se grozno. I feel terrible.
This verb with se² is used only for internal states. You cannot say “osjećam se bučno” if you’re in a loud environment, but you can say osjećam se loše if you don’t feel well.)
Nedostajati
Nedostajem, nedostaješ, nedostaje, nedostajemo, nedostajete, nedostaju
Nedostajao, nedostajala
Nedostaj, nedostajte
to lack or miss
This verb is used in a different way than the English miss. What is missing is the subject:
Jedan dio nedostaje. One part is missing.
If somebody is missing something, what’s missing is still the subject, and the ! person affected is in DL, and then it usually comes first:
Ani nedostaje jedan dio. Ana is missing one part.
As usual, the subject (what/who is missing) is often implied by the verb form:
Nedostaješ mi. I miss you.
Nedostajala si mi. I missed you. {to a female}
Note that this verb is not used to express miss a bus, miss a chance or miss a shot – specific verbs are used instead.
Peći (imperfective)
Ispeći (perfective)
Pečem, pečeš, peče, pečemo, pečete, peku
Pekao, pekla
Peci, pecite
bake
pečenje (roasted meat)
Ana peče kolače. Ana is baking cakes.
Ivan je ispekao pizzu. Ivan baked a pizza.
While English prefers other verbs in some instances, i.e. make a cake etc., Croatian prefers this verb pair whenever baking is done. This verb pair can also be used with se, the meaning is mediopassive, i.e. se something happens or has happened to the subject, but we don’t say who is causing it, or it happens ‘on its own’, e.g. for things left to bake: Kolači se peku. Cakes are baking
Vući (imperfective)
Povući (perfective)
Vučem, vučeš, vuče, vučemo, vučete, vuku
Vukao, vukla
Vući, vucite
to pull
Goran vuče igračku. Goran is pulling a toy.
Ana se vukla cijelo jutro. (colloq.) Ana dragged the whole morning.
(se): to drag oneself, to trudge along or straggle.
Like in English, it can also mean a vehicle, time, anything moves slowly, slower than we would like to:
Vlak se vuče. (colloq.) The train is dragging.
Gristi (grize, grizao, grizla)
Grizem, grizeš, grize, grizemo, grizete, grizu
Grizao, grizla
Grizi, grizite
To bite, gnaw, nibble
Rasti (imperfective)
Narasti (perfective)
Rastem, rasteš, raste, rastemo, rastete, rastu
Rastao, Rasla
Rasti, rastite
to grow
These verbs are used with a subject in N only:
Drvo raste. A tree grows.
Metaphorically, other things – prices, sea levels and so on: Temperature rastu. Temperatures are rising.
The perf. verb means something has grown to some degree (but it doesn’t imply it cannot grow more), while the impf. verb doesn’t imply any outcome:
Goran je narastao. Goran has grown.
Goran je rastao. Goran was growing.
Odgovarati (imperfective)
Odgovaram, odgovaraš, odgovara, odgovarate, odgovaraju
Odgovarao, podgovarala
Odgovaraj, odgovarajte
To reply or answer
If somebody answers to something (e.g. a letter, message) it’s expressed with
na ̈+A:
Ana ne odgovara na moje poruke.
Ana doesn’t answer my messages.
Odgovoriti (perfective)
Odgovorim, odgovoriš, odgovori, odgovorimo, odgovorite, odgovore
Odgovorio, odgovorila
Odgovori, odgovorite
To reply or answer (perfective)
To answer the phone (pick up the phone)
Odgovorila sam Ani [da nemam vremena].
I’ve answered Ana [that I had no time].
Preskočiti (perfective)
Preskočim, preskočiš, preskoči, preskočimo, preskočite, preskoče
Preskočio, preskočila
Preskoči, preskočite
to jump over/across (perfective)
Preskakati (imperfective)
Preskačem, preskačeš, preskače, preskačemo, preskačete, preskaču
Preskakao, preskakala
Preskači, preskačite
to jump over/across (imperfective)
Viknuti (perfective)
Viknem, vikneš, vikne, viknemo, viknete, viknu
Viknuo, viknula
Vikni, viknite
to yell/shout (perfective - Viknuti)
Vikati (imperfective)
Vičem, vičeš, viče, vičemo, vičete, viču
To yell/shout (imperfective - Vikati)
Boljeti (imperfective)
Zaboljeti
Bolim, boliš, boli, bolimo, bolite, bole
Bolio, boljela
ache/feel pain (hurts)
Bol = pain (bol is feminine)
This verb pair is used unlike in English: the body part that hurts is the subject, while the person who feels the pain is the object in A:
Anu boli zub. Ana’s teeth hurts.
Boljela me noga. My leg has hurt.
Although persons affected are actually objects in such sentences, they usually come
first in the sentence.
The verb zaboljeti («) is ‘semelfactive’, i.e. usually stands for a ‘single’, brief or short pain; sometimes, it can also stand for pain that started at some definite time.
Anu je zabolio zub. Ana’s teeth hurt for a moment. (or: started to hurt)
Svrbiti
Svrbim, svrbiš, svrbi, svrbimo, svrbite, svrbe
Svrbio, svrbila
Svrbi, svrbite
to itch (Svrbi me noga = My leg is itchy)
