Present Tense & Verb Conjugation Classes in Serbian
Present Tense Conjugation Classes (Prezent glagola: -am, -im, -em)
Serbian present tense verbs divide into three principal conjugation types based on 1st person singular ending: -am (čitati), -im (govoriti), and -em (pisati, piti).
In Serbian grammar, the *Present Tense (Prezent) expresses ongoing actions in the present, general habitual facts, and future events in dependent clauses. Verbs are classified into three primary conjugation classes (glagolske vrste)* according to the vowel theme of the 1st person singular:
*1. The -AM Conjugation (A-vrsta: čitati = to read, gledati = to watch): - 1st sg.: čitam (I read) - 2nd sg.: čitaš - 3rd sg.: čita - 1st pl.: čitamo - 2nd pl.: čitate - 3rd pl.: čitaju (ending -aju*).
*2. The -IM Conjugation (I-vrsta: govoriti = to speak, misliti = to think, raditi = to work): - 1st sg.: radim (I work) - 2nd sg.: radiš - 3rd sg.: radi - 1st pl.: radimo - 2nd pl.: radite - 3rd pl.: rade (ending -e*).
*3. The -EM Conjugation (E-vrsta: pisati → pišem, piti → pijem, živeti → živim/živem): - 1st sg.: pišem (I write) - 2nd sg.: pišeš - 3rd sg.: piše - 1st pl.: pišemo - 2nd pl.: pišete - 3rd pl.: pišu (ending -u*).
Third Person Plural Watchpoint: Notice that 3rd person plural endings are distinct for each class: -aju for A-type, -e for I-type, and -u for E-type.
Examples
Svaki dan pažljivo čitamo stručne tekstove i pišemo seminarske radove.
Every day we carefully read technical texts and write seminar papers.
Gde trenutno radite i koji strani jezik najčešće govorite na poslu?
Where do you currently work and which foreign language do you speak most often at work?
Naši profesori često putuju na međunarodne naučne simpozijume u inostranstvo.
Our professors often travel abroad to international scientific symposiums.
Studenti odlično razumeju predavanje i aktivno postavljaju zanimljiva pitanja.
The students understand the lecture excellently and actively ask interesting questions.
Related terms
Learn sr in context — free dictionary and practice.