Language/Serbian/Grammar/Verbs:-Past-Tense

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Serbian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Serbian Grammar → Verbs: Past Tense

Introduction

In this lesson, we will explore the past tense in Serbian verbs. The past tense is used to talk about actions or events that have already happened in the past. Understanding and using the past tense is crucial for effective communication in Serbian, as it allows us to express ourselves when discussing past experiences, narrating stories, or simply talking about things that have occurred before the present moment. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of the past tense in Serbian verbs and be able to use it confidently in your conversations.

The Past Tense Formations

The past tense in Serbian is formed by conjugating verbs according to their infinitive endings. There are three main groups of verbs in Serbian: -iti verbs, -ati verbs, and -eti verbs. Each group has its own set of rules for conjugating verbs in the past tense. Let's take a closer look at each group and the corresponding conjugation patterns.

-iti Verbs

-iti verbs are the most common type of verbs in Serbian, and they end in -iti in their infinitive form. To conjugate -iti verbs in the past tense, we remove the -iti ending and add the appropriate past tense endings. The past tense endings for -iti verbs are as follows:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
igrao	/igráo/	played
gledao	/gledáo/	watched
pisao	/pisáo/	wrote

Some examples of -iti verbs in the past tense:

• On je igrao fudbal juče. (He played football yesterday.)
• Ana je gledala film sinoć. (Ana watched a movie last night.)
• Marko je pisao pismo prošle nedelje. (Marko wrote a letter last week.)

-ati Verbs

-ati verbs are another common type of verbs in Serbian, and they end in -ati in their infinitive form. To conjugate -ati verbs in the past tense, we remove the -ati ending and add the appropriate past tense endings. The past tense endings for -ati verbs are as follows:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
radio	/rádio/	worked
pevao	/pévao/	sang
plakao	/plákao/	cried

Some examples of -ati verbs in the past tense:

• On je radio celo popodne. (He worked the whole afternoon.)
• Ana je pevala na koncertu sinoć. (Ana sang at the concert last night.)
• Marko je plakao kad je čuo tužnu vest. (Marko cried when he heard the sad news.)

-eti Verbs

-eti verbs are less common than -iti and -ati verbs, and they end in -eti in their infinitive form. To conjugate -eti verbs in the past tense, we remove the -eti ending and add the appropriate past tense endings. The past tense endings for -eti verbs are as follows:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
osetio	/osétio/	felt
video	/vídeo/	saw
imao	/imáo/	had

Some examples of -eti verbs in the past tense:

• On je osetio miris cveća. (He felt the smell of flowers.)
• Ana je videla zanimljiv prizor. (Ana saw an interesting scene.)
• Marko je imao lepu kuću. (Marko had a beautiful house.)

Cultural Insights

In Serbian culture, the past tense is commonly used to share personal stories, reminisce about the past, or describe historical events. Serbian literature and folklore are rich in narratives that use the past tense to transport readers and listeners to different times and places. Additionally, the past tense plays an important role in Serbian traditional songs, where it is used to convey emotions and tell stories of love, loss, and heroism.

It's worth mentioning that regional variations exist in the usage and understanding of the past tense in Serbian. For example, some dialects may have different past tense formations, and certain regions may use different past tense endings or verb conjugations. These variations add depth and diversity to the Serbian language and reflect the cultural richness of the country.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to practice what you've learned about the past tense in Serbian verbs. Complete the following exercises and check your answers below.

Exercise 1: Conjugate the following verbs in the past tense: 1. igrati (to play) 2. pevati (to sing) 3. videti (to see) 4. raditi (to work)

Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into Serbian using the past tense: 1. I watched a movie last night. 2. He played football yesterday. 3. Ana cried when she heard the sad news. 4. Marko had a beautiful house.

Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the past tense: 1. Ana __________ (raditi) all day yesterday. 2. Marko __________ (pevati) at the concert last night. 3. They __________ (videti) an interesting movie. 4. I __________ (imati) a great time on vacation.

Exercise Solutions

Exercise 1: 1. igrao 2. pevao 3. video 4. radio

Exercise 2: 1. Gledao sam film sinoć. 2. On je igrao fudbal juče. 3. Ana je plakala kad je čula tužnu vest. 4. Marko je imao lepu kuću.

Exercise 3: 1. je radila 2. je pevao 3. su videli 4. sam imao

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned about the past tense in Serbian verbs. You now have the knowledge and skills to express past actions and events in Serbian. Keep practicing and using the past tense in your conversations to become more fluent and confident in Serbian. In the next lesson, we will continue our exploration of Serbian grammar with the future tense. Dobro urađeno! (Well done!)

Table of Contents - Serbian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Serbian Grammar

• Nouns: Gender and Number
• Cases: Nominative and Accusative
• Pronouns: Personal Pronouns
• Verbs: Present Tense
• Verbs: Past Tense

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Introduction to Serbian Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Counting
• Food and Drink
• Family and Relationships
• Transportation and Directions

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Introduction to Serbian Culture

• Traditional Serbian Music
• Religious Festivals
• Folk Dances
• Serbian Films
• Cuisine

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Pronouns: Possessive Pronouns

• Verbs: Future Tense
• Adjectives: Comparative and Superlative
• Verbs: Imperative

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Shopping

• Clothes and Accessories
• At the Market
• Banking and Money

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Sports and Recreation

• Football in Serbia
• Winter Sports
• Music Festivals

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Adjectives: Declension

• Verbs: Perfective and Imperfective
• Verbs: Reflexive Verbs

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Jobs and Professions

• Places around Town
• Education and Learning

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Literature and Poetry

• Medieval Serbian Literature
• Contemporary Serbian Poetry

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Verbs: Conditional

• Verbs: Participles
• Verbs: Infinitives

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Entertainment and Media

• Movies and Theater
• Music and Performances

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Art and Artists

• Famous Serbian Painters
• Contemporary Serbian Art Scene

Sources

• 86 Top Serbian Verbs: Present & Past Tense Chart
• The Past Tense In Serbian: A Detailed Overview | Belgrade ...
• THE SERBIAN PAST TENSE (PROŠLO VREME) The past tense is ...

Other Lessons

• Possessive Case in Serbian
• Verbs: Future Tense
• Adjectives: Comparative and Superlative
• Questions
• Be Polite
• Give your Opinion
• Past Tense
• Adjectives
• Verbs: Present Tense
• Indefinite Articles in Serbian

◀️ Verbs: Present Tense — Previous Lesson

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