Language/Bosnian/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have
Hi Bosnian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be discussing how to use the verb "have" in Bosnian. We will explore the different ways you can use the verb in different contexts and understand how it varies from how it is used in English. Let's get started!
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Pronouns & Verbs and Conjugation.
Basic Usage[edit | edit source]
The verb "have" in Bosnian can be translated as "imati". It is most commonly used to indicate possession. Let's look at a few examples:
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Imam kuću | EE-mam KOO-chu | I have a house |
| Ona ima novac | OH-na EE-ma NO-vats | She has money |
| Imamo auto | EE-ma-mo OW-to | We have a car |
| Imaju mačku | EE-ma-yu MAH-ch-koo | They have a cat |
Note that in Bosnian, the verb "imati" is used with pronouns to describe possession.
Expressing Obligation[edit | edit source]
The verb "have" can also be used to express obligation in Bosnian.
To indicate that something must be done, we use the auxiliary verb "trebati" in combination with the main verb "imati". For example:
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Trebaš imati vizu | TRE-bash EE-ma-tee VEE-zoo | You have to have a visa |
| Trebamo imati dozvolu | TRE-ba-mo EE-ma-tee doz-VO-loo | We have to have a permit |
| Trebate imati pasoš | TRE-ba-te EE-ma-tee PAH-sosh | You have to have a passport |
Note that in the above examples, we used the verbs "trebati" and "imati" together to express the idea of obligation.
Expressing Completeness[edit | edit source]
In Bosnian, "have" can also be used to express completeness of an action.
For example, instead of saying "I have eaten my breakfast," you can simply say "I ate my breakfast". However, sometimes it is more precise to use the form "to have eaten". In this case, we use the verb "jesti" (to eat) and the auxiliary verb "biti" (to be) in combination with "imati".
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ja sam jutros doručkovao | Ya sam YOO-tros do-roo-ch-ko-VAO | I had breakfast this morning |
| Oni su već ručali | O-nee soo već ROO-cha-lee | They have already had lunch |
Negation[edit | edit source]
To negate the verb "have" in Bosnian, we use the word "nemati" instead of "imati". Here are a few examples:
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Nemam stan | NE-mam stan | I don't have an apartment |
| Nema novca | NE-ma NO-vats | There is no money |
| Nemamo vremena | NE-ma-mo VRE-me-na | We don't have time |
| Nemate pravo | NE-ma-te PRA-vo | You don't have the right |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Here is an example of a conversation that includes the verb "imati" in Bosnian:
- Person 1: Imam jedan problem. (I have a problem)
- Person 2: Šta se dogodilo? (What happened?)
- Person 1: Nemam dovoljno novca. (I don't have enough money)
- Person 2: Možda ti mogu pomoći. (Maybe I can help you)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In conclusion, the verb "have" in Bosnian can be translated as "imati". It can be used to express possession, obligation, completeness, and negation. To improve your Bosnian Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: Plurals & Nouns.
Videos[edit | edit source]
HOW TO SPEAK BOSNIAN Grammatical Cases - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Negation
- Pronouns
- Questions
- Gender
- Future Tense
- Plurals
- How to Use Be
- Give your Opinion
- Adjectives
- Conditional Mood
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Bosnian language - Wikipedia
- Bosnian Grammar - How to Use "Have"
- Everything You Need to Know About Bosnian Grammar | BLEND