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{{Croatian-Page-Top}}
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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Croatian|Croatian]]  → [[Language/Croatian/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Croatian/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Intermediate Croatian Grammar → Advanced Verb Tenses</div>
<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Croatian|Croatian]]  → [[Language/Croatian/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Croatian/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Advanced Verb Tenses</div>
 
Welcome to the "Advanced Verb Tenses" lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Croatian Course"! Today, we are diving into the fascinating world of Croatian verb tenses, specifically the compound past, future perfect, and conditional mood. These tenses are essential for expressing actions that have occurred in the past, will occur in the future, or might occur under certain conditions. Understanding these tenses will greatly enhance your ability to communicate in Croatian, allowing you to express nuanced ideas and thoughts.
 
In this lesson, we will break down the complexities of these tenses into manageable parts. We will explore each tense in detail, provide plenty of examples for clarity, and engage you with exercises to practice what you have learned.


__TOC__
__TOC__


== Introduction ==
=== Importance of Advanced Verb Tenses ===
 
Mastering advanced verb tenses is crucial for several reasons:
 
* '''Expressing Time''': Different tenses allow us to convey when something happened, is happening, or will happen.
 
* '''Nuanced Communication''': Using the correct tense can significantly change the meaning of a sentence, allowing for more precise communication.
 
* '''Cultural Context''': Understanding verb tenses helps in grasping the nuances of Croatian culture and its expressions.
 
=== Overview of the Lesson Structure ===


In this lesson, we will delve into the advanced verb tenses in the Croatian language. Building upon the knowledge gained in the previous lessons of this course, we will explore more complex verb forms and structures. Mastering advanced verb tenses is essential for achieving a high level of proficiency in Croatian and expressing yourself with precision and accuracy.
1. '''Compound Past Tense'''


Throughout this lesson, we will cover three main topics: compound past tense, future perfect tense, and conditional mood. Each topic will be explained in detail, accompanied by numerous examples to help you understand and internalize the concepts. Additionally, we will explore any regional variations in the usage or understanding of these verb tenses, providing you with a deeper insight into Croatian culture and language.
2. '''Future Perfect Tense'''


By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of these advanced verb tenses and be able to use them confidently in your own conversations and writing. Let's begin!
3. '''Conditional Mood'''
 
4. '''Practice Exercises'''


== Compound Past Tense ==
== Compound Past Tense ==


The compound past tense, also known as the perfect tense, is used to talk about completed actions in the past. It is formed by combining the auxiliary verb "biti" (to be) in the present tense with the past participle of the main verb. Here is the conjugation of "biti" in the present tense:
The compound past tense (prošlo vrijeme) is used to describe actions that have been completed in the past. It is formed using the auxiliary verb "biti" (to be) in the present tense and the past participle of the main verb.
 
=== Formation of Compound Past Tense ===
 
To form the compound past tense, follow these steps:
 
1. Conjugate the auxiliary verb "biti" in the present tense.
 
2. Add the past participle of the main verb.
 
The past participle for regular verbs is typically formed by removing the infinitive ending and adding the appropriate ending (-o, -la, -li).
 
Here’s a quick table for reference:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Croatian !! Pronunciation !! English
 
! Subject !! Auxiliary Verb (Biti) !! Past Participle
 
|-
|-
| Ja sam || Ya sahm || I am
 
| Ja (I) || sam || -o (for masculine)
 
|-
|-
| Ti si || Tee see || You are (informal)
 
| Ti (You - singular) || si || -o
 
|-
|-
| On/Ona/Ono je || Ohn/Ohnah/Ohno yay || He/She/It is
 
| On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It) || je || -o/-la/-lo
 
|-
|-
| Mi smo || Mee smoh || We are
 
| Mi (We) || smo || -o
 
|-
|-
| Vi ste || Vee steh || You are (formal/plural)
 
| Vi (You - plural/formal) || ste || -o
 
|-
|-
| Oni/One/Ona su || Ohnee/Ohneh/Ohnah soo || They are
 
| Oni/One (They) || su || -o/-li
 
|}
|}


To form the compound past tense, we use the present tense conjugation of "biti" and add the past participle of the main verb. The past participle in Croatian is formed by adding the suffix "-o" (for neuter gender), "-a" (for feminine gender), or "-i" (for masculine gender) to the verb stem. Here are some examples:
=== Examples of Compound Past Tense ===
 
Here are some examples to illustrate:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Croatian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Croatian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ja sam vidio film. || ja sam 'vidio film || I saw a movie.
|-
|-
| Ja sam bio/bila/bilo || Ya sahm bee-oh/bee-lah/bee-loh || I have been
 
| Ona je pročitala knjigu. || 'Ona je proči'tala 'knjigu || She read a book.
 
|-
|-
| Ti si bio/bila/bilo || Tee see bee-oh/bee-lah/bee-loh || You have been (informal)
 
| Mi smo bili sretni. || mi smo 'bili 'sretni || We were happy.
 
|-
|-
| On/Ona/Ono je bio/bila/bilo || Ohn/Ohnah/Ohno yay bee-oh/bee-lah/bee-loh || He/She/It has been
 
| Ti si kupio hljeb. || ti si 'kupio 'hljeb || You bought bread.
 
|-
|-
| Mi smo bili/bile/bila || Mee smoh bee-lee/bee-leh/bee-lah || We have been
 
| Oni su završili posao. || 'Oni su za'vršili 'posao || They finished the job.
 
|-
|-
| Vi ste bili/bile/bila || Vee steh bee-lee/bee-leh/bee-lah || You have been (formal/plural)
 
| Ona je otišla kući. || 'Ona je oti'šla 'kući || She went home.
 
|-
|-
| Oni/One/Ona su bili/bile/bila || Ohnee/Ohneh/Ohnah soo bee-lee/bee-leh/bee-lah || They have been
 
| Mi smo učili hrvatski. || mi smo 'učili 'hrvatski || We learned Croatian.
 
|-
 
| Ja sam prodao auto. || ja sam pro'dao 'auto || I sold the car.
 
|-
 
| On je dao poklon. || on je 'dao 'poklon || He gave a gift.
 
|-
 
| Ti si napravio večeru. || ti si na'pravio ve'čeru || You made dinner.
 
|}
|}


It is important to note that the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. Let's look at some examples:
== Future Perfect Tense ==
 
The future perfect tense (buduće perfekt) is used to express actions that will have been completed by a certain point in the future. It is formed by combining the future tense of the auxiliary verb "biti" with the past participle of the main verb.
 
=== Formation of Future Perfect Tense ===
 
To form the future perfect tense, follow these steps:


* Ja sam bio u Zagrebu. (I have been in Zagreb.)
1. Conjugate "biti" in the future tense.
* Ona je bila sretna. (She has been happy.)
* Mi smo bili na plaži. (We have been at the beach.)


== Future Perfect Tense ==
2. Add the past participle of the main verb.


The future perfect tense is used to talk about actions that will be completed in the future before another specified event or time. It is formed by combining the auxiliary verb "biti" in the future tense with the past participle of the main verb. Here is the conjugation of "biti" in the future tense:
Here’s how the auxiliary verb "biti" is conjugated in the future tense:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Croatian !! Pronunciation !! English
 
! Subject !! Auxiliary Verb (Biti) in Future
 
|-
|-
| Ja ću biti || Ya choo bee-tee || I will be
 
| Ja (I) || ću biti
 
|-
|-
| Ti ćeš biti || Tee cheh bee-tee || You will be (informal)
 
| Ti (You - singular) || ćeš biti
 
|-
|-
| On/Ona/Ono će biti || Ohn/Ohnah/Ohno cheh bee-tee || He/She/It will be
 
| On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It) || će biti
 
|-
|-
| Mi ćemo biti || Mee cheh-moh bee-tee || We will be
 
| Mi (We) || ćemo biti
 
|-
|-
| Vi ćete biti || Vee cheh-teh bee-tee || You will be (formal/plural)
 
| Vi (You - plural/formal) || ćete biti
 
|-
|-
| Oni/One/Ona će biti || Ohnee/Ohneh/Ohnah cheh bee-tee || They will be
 
| Oni/One (They) || će biti
 
|}
|}


To form the future perfect tense, we use the future tense conjugation of "biti" and add the past participle of the main verb. Here are some examples:
=== Examples of Future Perfect Tense ===
 
Here are some examples to illustrate:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Croatian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Croatian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ja ću biti završio posao. || ja ću 'biti za'vršio 'posao || I will have finished the job.
|-
| Ona će biti pročitala knjigu. || 'Ona će 'biti proči'tala 'knjigu || She will have read the book.
|-
| Mi ćemo biti sretni. || mi ćemo 'biti 'sretni || We will have been happy.
|-
| Ti ćeš biti kupio hljeb. || ti ćeš 'biti 'kupio 'hljeb || You will have bought bread.
|-
|-
| Ja ću biti dovršio/dovršila/dovršilo || Ya choo bee-tee doh-vr-shee-oh/doh-vr-shee-lah/doh-vr-shee-loh || I will have finished
 
| Oni će biti došli. || 'Oni će 'biti do'šli || They will have come.
 
|-
|-
| Ti ćeš biti dovršio/dovršila/dovršilo || Tee cheh bee-tee doh-vr-shee-oh/doh-vr-shee-lah/doh-vr-shee-loh || You will have finished (informal)
 
| Ona će biti otišla kući. || 'Ona će 'biti oti'šla 'kući || She will have gone home.
 
|-
|-
| On/Ona/Ono će biti dovršio/dovršila/dovršilo || Ohn/Ohnah/Ohno cheh bee-tee doh-vr-shee-oh/doh-vr-shee-lah/doh-vr-shee-loh || He/She/It will have finished
 
| Mi ćemo biti učili hrvatski. || mi ćemo 'biti 'učili 'hrvatski || We will have learned Croatian.
 
|-
|-
| Mi ćemo biti dovršili/dovršile/dovršila || Mee cheh-moh bee-tee doh-vr-shee-lee/doh-vr-shee-leh/doh-vr-shee-lah || We will have finished
 
| Ja ću biti prodao auto. || ja ću 'biti pro'dao 'auto || I will have sold the car.
 
|-
|-
| Vi ćete biti dovršili/dovršile/dovršila || Vee cheh-teh bee-tee doh-vr-shee-lee/doh-vr-shee-leh/doh-vr-shee-lah || You will have finished (formal/plural)
 
| On će biti dao poklon. || on će 'biti 'dao 'poklon || He will have given a gift.
 
|-
|-
| Oni/One/Ona će biti dovršili/dovršile/dovršila || Ohnee/Ohneh/Ohnah cheh bee-tee doh-vr-shee-lee/doh-vr-shee-leh/doh-vr-shee-lah || They will have finished
 
| Ti ćeš biti napravio večeru. || ti ćeš 'biti na'pravio ve'čeru || You will have made dinner.
 
|}
|}


Just like in the compound past tense, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. Let's look at some examples:
== Conditional Mood ==
 
The conditional mood (uvjetni način) is used to express actions that could occur under certain conditions. It is often used to make polite requests or hypothetical statements.


* Ja ću biti završio svoj rad prije večere. (I will have finished my work before dinner.)
=== Formation of Conditional Mood ===
* On će biti završio fakultet do kraja godine. (He will have finished college by the end of the year.)
* Mi ćemo biti pročitali sve knjige prije putovanja. (We will have read all the books before the trip.)


== Conditional Mood ==
The conditional mood is formed by using the conditional form of the auxiliary verb "biti" together with the past participle of the main verb.


The conditional mood is used to talk about hypothetical or unreal situations, and to express wishes or requests. It is formed by combining the conditional form of the auxiliary verb "biti" with the infinitive form of the main verb. Here is the conjugation of "biti" in the conditional mood:
Here’s how the auxiliary verb "biti" is conjugated in the conditional tense:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Croatian !! Pronunciation !! English
 
! Subject !! Auxiliary Verb (Biti) in Conditional
 
|-
|-
| Ja bih bio/bila/bilo || Ya bee bee-oh/bee-lah/bee-loh || I would be
 
| Ja (I) || bih
 
|-
|-
| Ti bi bio/bila/bilo || Tee bee bee-oh/bee-lah/bee-loh || You would be (informal)
 
| Ti (You - singular) || bi
 
|-
|-
| On/Ona/Ono bi bio/bila/bilo || Ohn/Ohnah/Ohno bee bee-oh/bee-lah/bee-loh || He/She/It would be
 
| On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It) || bi
 
|-
|-
| Mi bismo bili/bile/bila || Mee bee-smoh bee-lee/bee-leh/bee-lah || We would be
 
| Mi (We) || bismo
 
|-
|-
| Vi biste bili/bile/bila || Vee bee-steh bee-lee/bee-leh/bee-lah || You would be (formal/plural)
 
| Vi (You - plural/formal) || biste
 
|-
|-
| Oni/One/Ona bi bili/bile/bila || Ohnee/Ohneh/Ohnah bee bee-lee/bee-leh/bee-lah || They would be
 
| Oni/One (They) || bi
 
|}
|}


To form the conditional mood, we use the conditional form of "biti" and add the infinitive form of the main verb. Here are some examples:
=== Examples of Conditional Mood ===
 
Here are some examples to illustrate:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Croatian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Croatian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Ja bih bio vratio/vratila/vratilo || Ya bee bee vr-ah-tee-oh/vr-ah-tee-lah/vr-ah-tee-loh || I would have returned
 
| Ja bih otišao. || ja bih oti'shao || I would go.
 
|-
|-
| Ti bi bio vratio/vratila/vratilo || Tee bee bee vr-ah-tee-oh/vr-ah-tee-lah/vr-ah-tee-loh || You would have returned (informal)
 
| Ona bi pročitala knjigu. || 'Ona bi proči'tala 'knjigu || She would read the book.
 
|-
|-
| On/Ona/Ono bi bio vratio/vratila/vratilo || Ohn/Ohnah/Ohno bee bee vr-ah-tee-oh/vr-ah-tee-lah/vr-ah-tee-loh || He/She/It would have returned
 
| Mi bismo bili sretni. || mi bismo 'bili 'sretni || We would be happy.
 
|-
|-
| Mi bismo bili vratili/vratile/vratila || Mee bee-smoh bee-lee vr-ah-tee-lee/vr-ah-tee-leh/vr-ah-tee-lah || We would have returned
 
| Ti bi kupio hljeb. || ti bi 'kupio 'hljeb || You would buy bread.
 
|-
|-
| Vi biste bili vratili/vratile/vratila || Vee bee-steh bee-lee vr-ah-tee-lee/vr-ah-tee-leh/vr-ah-tee-lah || You would have returned (formal/plural)
 
| Oni bi došli. || 'Oni bi do'šli || They would come.
 
|-
|-
| Oni/One/Ona bi bili vratili/vratile/vratila || Ohnee/Ohneh/Ohnah bee bee vr-ah-tee-lee/vr-ah-tee-leh/vr-ah-tee-lah || They would have returned
 
| Ona bi otišla kući. || 'Ona bi oti'šla 'kući || She would go home.
 
|-
 
| Mi bismo učili hrvatski. || mi bismo 'učili 'hrvatski || We would learn Croatian.
 
|-
 
| Ja bih prodao auto. || ja bih pro'dao 'auto || I would sell the car.
 
|-
 
| On bi dao poklon. || on bi 'dao 'poklon || He would give a gift.
 
|-
 
| Ti bi napravio večeru. || ti bi na'pravio ve'čeru || You would make dinner.
 
|}
|}


As in the previous tenses, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. Let's look at some examples:
== Practice Exercises ==
 
Now that we have explored advanced verb tenses, it’s time to practice! Below are some exercises to help reinforce your understanding.
 
=== Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks ===
 
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in the compound past tense.
 
1. Ja ________ (vidjeti) film.
 
2. Ona ________ (pročitati) knjigu.
 
3. Mi ________ (biti) sretni.
 
4. Ti ________ (kupiti) hljeb.
 
5. Oni ________ (završiti) posao.
 
=== Exercise 2: Future Perfect Tense ===
 
Transform the following sentences into the future perfect tense.
 
1. Ja ________ (vidjeti) film.  
 
2. Ona ________ (pročitati) knjigu.
 
3. Mi ________ (biti) sretni.
 
4. Ti ________ (kupiti) hljeb.
 
5. Oni ________ (završiti) posao.
 
=== Exercise 3: Conditional Mood ===
 
Rewrite the sentences using the conditional mood.
 
1. Ja ________ (otići) na more.
 
2. Ona ________ (pročitati) knjigu.
 
3. Mi ________ (biti) sretni.
 
4. Ti ________ (kupiti) hljeb.
 
5. Oni ________ (doći) na zabavu.


* Ja bih bio poslao pismo da sam znao. (I would have sent the letter if I had known.)
=== Solutions to Exercises ===
* Ona bi bila zahvalna da je dobila posao. (She would be grateful if she got the job.)
* Mi bismo bili sretni da smo pobijedili. (We would be happy if we had won.)


== Cultural Insights ==
Here are the solutions to the exercises:


In Croatian culture, verb tenses play a significant role in communication and expression. The correct usage of verb tenses helps to convey precise meanings and intentions, ensuring effective and accurate communication. Understanding advanced verb tenses is particularly important in formal settings, such as academic or professional contexts, where precision and clarity are essential.
=== Exercise 1 Solutions ===


Regional variations in the usage and understanding of verb tenses may exist within Croatia due to historical, linguistic, and cultural factors. For example, certain dialects may have different conjugation patterns or unique verb forms that differ from the standard Croatian. These regional variations add richness and diversity to the Croatian language and reflect the cultural heritage of different regions within Croatia.
1. Ja sam vidio film.


Interesting Fact: In Croatian, the verb "to be" (biti) is often omitted in certain sentences when it is clear from the context. This linguistic feature, known as "zero copula," is a characteristic of many Slavic languages and contributes to the efficiency and brevity of spoken Croatian.
2. Ona je pročitala knjigu.


== Practice Exercises ==
3. Mi smo bili sretni.


Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of the compound past tense, future perfect tense, and conditional mood. Solutions and explanations will be provided at the end for your reference.
4. Ti si kupio hljeb.


Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb "biti" and the past participle of the main verb.
5. Oni su završili posao.


1. Ja ________ (doći) kući prije sat vremena.
=== Exercise 2 Solutions ===
2. Ti ________ (vidjeti) tu predstavu već tri puta.
3. On ________ (pročitati) sve knjige iz te trilogije.
4. Mi ________ (otići) na more prošlog ljeta.
5. Vi ________ (raditi) na ovom projektu cijeli mjesec.
6. Oni ________ (učiti) strane jezike od malih nogu.


Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences using the future perfect tense.
1. Ja ću biti vidio film.


1. Ja završavam fakultet sljedeće godine. -> Ja ________ fakultet sljedeće godine.
2. Ona će biti pročitala knjigu.
2. Ona upoznaje svjetski poznatog pjevača sutra. -> Ona ________ svjetski poznatog pjevača sutra.
3. Mi čitamo ovu knjigu prije spavanja. -> Mi ________ ovu knjigu prije spavanja.
4. Vi putujete u Pariz sljedeći tjedan. -> Vi ________ u Pariz sljedeći tjedan.
5. Oni rade na tom projektu već mjesec dana. -> Oni ________ na tom projektu već mjesec dana.


Exercise 3: Complete the sentences using the conditional mood.
3. Mi ćemo biti sretni.


1. Ja ________ s tobom na taj koncert da sam znao ranije.
4. Ti ćeš biti kupio hljeb.
2. Ti ________ me da si bio iskren od početka.
3. On ________ uvjetovan da su se ispunili svi zahtjevi.
4. Mi ________ na vrijeme da smo imali više resursa.
5. Vi ________ svijet da ste imali moć mijenjati stvari.
6. Oni ________ sve da su imali priliku.


== Solutions and Explanations ==
5. Oni će biti završili posao.


Exercise 1:
=== Exercise 3 Solutions ===


1. Ja sam došao/la kući prije sat vremena.
1. Ja bih otišao na more.
2. Ti si vidio/la tu predstavu već tri puta.
3. On je pročitao/la sve knjige iz te trilogije.
4. Mi smo otišli/e na more prošlog ljeta.
5. Vi ste radili/e na ovom projektu cijeli mjesec.
6. Oni su učili/e strane jezike od malih nogu.


Exercise 2:
2. Ona bi pročitala knjigu.


1. Ja ću završiti fakultet sljedeće godine.
3. Mi bismo bili sretni.
2. Ona će upoznati svjetski poznatog pjevača sutra.
3. Mi ćemo pročitati ovu knjigu prije spavanja.
4. Vi ćete putovati u Pariz sljedeći tjedan.
5. Oni će raditi na tom projektu već mjesec dana.


Exercise 3:
4. Ti bi kupio hljeb.


1. Ja bih išao/la s tobom na taj koncert da sam znao ranije.
5. Oni bi došli na zabavu.
2. Ti bi me uvjerio/la da si bio iskren od početka.
3. On bi prihvatio uvjetovan da su se ispunili svi zahtjevi.
4. Mi bismo uspjeli na vrijeme da smo imali više resursa.
5. Vi biste promijenili svijet da ste imali moć mijenjati stvari.
6. Oni bi napravili sve da su imali priliku.


Congratulations on completing the exercises! You are now more familiar with the compound past tense, future perfect tense, and conditional mood in Croatian. Keep practicing to reinforce your knowledge and fluency in these advanced verb tenses.
Congratulations on completing this lesson! Remember that mastering these tenses takes practice, but with time, you'll find yourself using them with ease. Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to revisit this lesson if you need a refresher!


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==Sources==
==Sources==

Latest revision as of 00:21, 1 August 2024


Croatian-Language-PolyglotClub.png
Croatian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Advanced Verb Tenses

Welcome to the "Advanced Verb Tenses" lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Croatian Course"! Today, we are diving into the fascinating world of Croatian verb tenses, specifically the compound past, future perfect, and conditional mood. These tenses are essential for expressing actions that have occurred in the past, will occur in the future, or might occur under certain conditions. Understanding these tenses will greatly enhance your ability to communicate in Croatian, allowing you to express nuanced ideas and thoughts.

In this lesson, we will break down the complexities of these tenses into manageable parts. We will explore each tense in detail, provide plenty of examples for clarity, and engage you with exercises to practice what you have learned.

Importance of Advanced Verb Tenses[edit | edit source]

Mastering advanced verb tenses is crucial for several reasons:

  • Expressing Time: Different tenses allow us to convey when something happened, is happening, or will happen.
  • Nuanced Communication: Using the correct tense can significantly change the meaning of a sentence, allowing for more precise communication.
  • Cultural Context: Understanding verb tenses helps in grasping the nuances of Croatian culture and its expressions.

Overview of the Lesson Structure[edit | edit source]

1. Compound Past Tense

2. Future Perfect Tense

3. Conditional Mood

4. Practice Exercises

Compound Past Tense[edit | edit source]

The compound past tense (prošlo vrijeme) is used to describe actions that have been completed in the past. It is formed using the auxiliary verb "biti" (to be) in the present tense and the past participle of the main verb.

Formation of Compound Past Tense[edit | edit source]

To form the compound past tense, follow these steps:

1. Conjugate the auxiliary verb "biti" in the present tense.

2. Add the past participle of the main verb.

The past participle for regular verbs is typically formed by removing the infinitive ending and adding the appropriate ending (-o, -la, -li).

Here’s a quick table for reference:

Subject Auxiliary Verb (Biti) Past Participle
Ja (I) sam -o (for masculine)
Ti (You - singular) si -o
On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It) je -o/-la/-lo
Mi (We) smo -o
Vi (You - plural/formal) ste -o
Oni/One (They) su -o/-li

Examples of Compound Past Tense[edit | edit source]

Here are some examples to illustrate:

Croatian Pronunciation English
Ja sam vidio film. ja sam 'vidio film I saw a movie.
Ona je pročitala knjigu. 'Ona je proči'tala 'knjigu She read a book.
Mi smo bili sretni. mi smo 'bili 'sretni We were happy.
Ti si kupio hljeb. ti si 'kupio 'hljeb You bought bread.
Oni su završili posao. 'Oni su za'vršili 'posao They finished the job.
Ona je otišla kući. 'Ona je oti'šla 'kući She went home.
Mi smo učili hrvatski. mi smo 'učili 'hrvatski We learned Croatian.
Ja sam prodao auto. ja sam pro'dao 'auto I sold the car.
On je dao poklon. on je 'dao 'poklon He gave a gift.
Ti si napravio večeru. ti si na'pravio ve'čeru You made dinner.

Future Perfect Tense[edit | edit source]

The future perfect tense (buduće perfekt) is used to express actions that will have been completed by a certain point in the future. It is formed by combining the future tense of the auxiliary verb "biti" with the past participle of the main verb.

Formation of Future Perfect Tense[edit | edit source]

To form the future perfect tense, follow these steps:

1. Conjugate "biti" in the future tense.

2. Add the past participle of the main verb.

Here’s how the auxiliary verb "biti" is conjugated in the future tense:

Subject Auxiliary Verb (Biti) in Future
Ja (I) ću biti
Ti (You - singular) ćeš biti
On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It) će biti
Mi (We) ćemo biti
Vi (You - plural/formal) ćete biti
Oni/One (They) će biti

Examples of Future Perfect Tense[edit | edit source]

Here are some examples to illustrate:

Croatian Pronunciation English
Ja ću biti završio posao. ja ću 'biti za'vršio 'posao I will have finished the job.
Ona će biti pročitala knjigu. 'Ona će 'biti proči'tala 'knjigu She will have read the book.
Mi ćemo biti sretni. mi ćemo 'biti 'sretni We will have been happy.
Ti ćeš biti kupio hljeb. ti ćeš 'biti 'kupio 'hljeb You will have bought bread.
Oni će biti došli. 'Oni će 'biti do'šli They will have come.
Ona će biti otišla kući. 'Ona će 'biti oti'šla 'kući She will have gone home.
Mi ćemo biti učili hrvatski. mi ćemo 'biti 'učili 'hrvatski We will have learned Croatian.
Ja ću biti prodao auto. ja ću 'biti pro'dao 'auto I will have sold the car.
On će biti dao poklon. on će 'biti 'dao 'poklon He will have given a gift.
Ti ćeš biti napravio večeru. ti ćeš 'biti na'pravio ve'čeru You will have made dinner.

Conditional Mood[edit | edit source]

The conditional mood (uvjetni način) is used to express actions that could occur under certain conditions. It is often used to make polite requests or hypothetical statements.

Formation of Conditional Mood[edit | edit source]

The conditional mood is formed by using the conditional form of the auxiliary verb "biti" together with the past participle of the main verb.

Here’s how the auxiliary verb "biti" is conjugated in the conditional tense:

Subject Auxiliary Verb (Biti) in Conditional
Ja (I) bih
Ti (You - singular) bi
On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It) bi
Mi (We) bismo
Vi (You - plural/formal) biste
Oni/One (They) bi

Examples of Conditional Mood[edit | edit source]

Here are some examples to illustrate:

Croatian Pronunciation English
Ja bih otišao. ja bih oti'shao I would go.
Ona bi pročitala knjigu. 'Ona bi proči'tala 'knjigu She would read the book.
Mi bismo bili sretni. mi bismo 'bili 'sretni We would be happy.
Ti bi kupio hljeb. ti bi 'kupio 'hljeb You would buy bread.
Oni bi došli. 'Oni bi do'šli They would come.
Ona bi otišla kući. 'Ona bi oti'šla 'kući She would go home.
Mi bismo učili hrvatski. mi bismo 'učili 'hrvatski We would learn Croatian.
Ja bih prodao auto. ja bih pro'dao 'auto I would sell the car.
On bi dao poklon. on bi 'dao 'poklon He would give a gift.
Ti bi napravio večeru. ti bi na'pravio ve'čeru You would make dinner.

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now that we have explored advanced verb tenses, it’s time to practice! Below are some exercises to help reinforce your understanding.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in the compound past tense.

1. Ja ________ (vidjeti) film.

2. Ona ________ (pročitati) knjigu.

3. Mi ________ (biti) sretni.

4. Ti ________ (kupiti) hljeb.

5. Oni ________ (završiti) posao.

Exercise 2: Future Perfect Tense[edit | edit source]

Transform the following sentences into the future perfect tense.

1. Ja ________ (vidjeti) film.

2. Ona ________ (pročitati) knjigu.

3. Mi ________ (biti) sretni.

4. Ti ________ (kupiti) hljeb.

5. Oni ________ (završiti) posao.

Exercise 3: Conditional Mood[edit | edit source]

Rewrite the sentences using the conditional mood.

1. Ja ________ (otići) na more.

2. Ona ________ (pročitati) knjigu.

3. Mi ________ (biti) sretni.

4. Ti ________ (kupiti) hljeb.

5. Oni ________ (doći) na zabavu.

Solutions to Exercises[edit | edit source]

Here are the solutions to the exercises:

Exercise 1 Solutions[edit | edit source]

1. Ja sam vidio film.

2. Ona je pročitala knjigu.

3. Mi smo bili sretni.

4. Ti si kupio hljeb.

5. Oni su završili posao.

Exercise 2 Solutions[edit | edit source]

1. Ja ću biti vidio film.

2. Ona će biti pročitala knjigu.

3. Mi ćemo biti sretni.

4. Ti ćeš biti kupio hljeb.

5. Oni će biti završili posao.

Exercise 3 Solutions[edit | edit source]

1. Ja bih otišao na more.

2. Ona bi pročitala knjigu.

3. Mi bismo bili sretni.

4. Ti bi kupio hljeb.

5. Oni bi došli na zabavu.

Congratulations on completing this lesson! Remember that mastering these tenses takes practice, but with time, you'll find yourself using them with ease. Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to revisit this lesson if you need a refresher!

Table of Contents - Croatian Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Greetings and Introductions


Nouns and Pronouns


Numbers and Time


Verbs and Tenses


Daily Activities


Adjectives and Adverbs


Food and Drink


Croatian Culture and Traditions

Sources[edit | edit source]



Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



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