Language/Bosnian/Grammar/Present-Tense

Bosnian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verbs and Tenses → Present Tense

Introduction

In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate regular and irregular verbs in the present tense. This tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening or are true in the present.

Bosnian verbs are inflected, meaning that their endings change depending on the subject of the sentence. Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern, but irregular verbs have unique forms in the present tense that you will need to memorize.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to form sentences using different verbs and subjects in the present tense.

Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: How to Use Have & Adjective Agreement.

Regular Verbs

Present Tense Conjugation

Regular verbs in Bosnian follow a predictable pattern when conjugated in the present tense. Below is the conjugation for the present tense of the verb "to love" (voljeti):

Person	Conjugation
ja (I)	volim
ti (you - singular informal)	voliš
on/ona/ono (he/she/it)	voli
mi (we)	volimo
vi (you - plural/formal)	volite
oni/one/ona (they)	vole

As you can see, regular verbs in the present tense conjugate by adding different endings to the stem of the verb. In the example above, the stem of the verb is "volj", and the endings are "im", "iš", "i", "imo", "ite", and "e" for each person, respectively.

Regular Verbs Examples

Here are some examples of regular verbs in the present tense:

• Ja pišem pismo. (I am writing a letter.)
• Ti pevaš pesmu. (You are singing a song.)
• On čita knjigu. (He is reading a book.)
• Mi sviramo gitaru. (We are playing the guitar.)
• Vi učite Bosanski. (You are learning Bosnian.)
• Oni gledaju film. (They are watching a movie.)

Irregular Verbs

Common Irregular Verbs

There are several common verbs in Bosnian that have irregular forms in the present tense. Here are a few examples:

• biti (to be):

Person	Conjugation
ja (I)	jesam
ti (you - singular informal)	jesi
on/ona/ono (he/she/it)	jeste
mi (we)	jesmo
vi (you - plural/formal)	jeste
oni/one/ona (they)	jesu

• htjeti (to want):

Person	Conjugation
ja (I)	hoću
ti (you - singular informal)	hoćeš
on/ona/ono (he/she/it)	hoće
mi (we)	hoćemo
vi (you - plural/formal)	hoćete
oni/one/ona (they)	hoće

• moći (to be able to):

Person	Conjugation
ja (I)	mogu
ti (you - singular informal)	možeš
on/ona/ono (he/she/it)	može
mi (we)	možemo
vi (you - plural/formal)	možete
oni/one/ona (they)	mogu

Irregular Verbs Examples

Here are some examples of sentences using irregular verbs in the present tense:

• Ja sam učitelj. (I am a teacher.)
• Ti hoćeš da izađemo? (Do you want to go out?)
• Ona ne može da dođe. (She cannot come.)
• Mi idemo u kino. (We are going to the cinema.)
• Vi imate vremena poslije podne? (Do you have time this afternoon?)
• Oni znaju kuda treba da idemo. (They know where we need to go.)

Negative and Interrogative Sentences

Negative Sentences

In Bosnian, negative sentences in the present tense are formed by adding the word "ne" before the verb. For example:

• Ja ne volim kafu. (I do not like coffee.)
• On ne peva dobro. (He does not sing well.)

Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative (or question) sentences in Bosnian are formed by placing the verb before the subject. For example:

• Da li ti pevaš? (Are you singing?)
• Kuda oni idu? (Where are they going?)

In informal speech, it is common to use the rising intonation at the end of the sentence to indicate that it is a question.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1

Conjugate the following regular verbs in the present tense:

1. čitati (to read) 2. gledati (to watch) 3. igrati (to play) 4. učiti (to learn)

Exercise 2

Conjugate the following irregular verbs in the present tense:

1. biti (to be) 2. htjeti (to want) 3. moći (to be able to) 4. znati (to know)

Exercise 3

Form sentences in the present tense using the following subjects and verbs:

1. Ja / govoriti (to speak) 2. Ti / raditi (to work) 3. On / živeti (to live) 4. Mi / putovati (to travel) 5. Vi / čekati (to wait) 6. Oni / jesti (to eat)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have learned how to conjugate regular and irregular verbs in the present tense. Keep practicing forming sentences using different verbs and subjects to reinforce your understanding of this tense.

In the next lesson, we will learn how to conjugate verbs in the past tense and form sentences.

Excellent job on conquering this lesson! Consider delving into these related pages: 0 to A1 Course & Conditional Mood.

Table of Contents - Bosnian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Bosnian Alphabet

• Bosnian Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Special Characters and Sounds

  ---

Basic Bosnian Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Gender and Plurals
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Bosnian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Common Hobbies
• Sports and Fitness

  ---

Bosnian Literature and Cinema

• Famous Writers and Works
• Bosnian Cinema

Other Lessons

• Articles and Nouns
• How to Use Be
• Bosnian Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Questions and Negations
• Conditional Mood
• Adjective Agreement
• Give your Opinion
• 0 to A1 Course

Sources

• Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Grammar: The Present Tense Singular ...
• Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Grammar: The Present Tense Plural ...