Language/Croatian/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be

Croatian Grammar - How to Use "Be"

Hi Croatian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will dive into the grammar of using the verb "to be" in Croatian. Knowing the basics of verb conjugation is crucial for mastering any language, and Croatian is no exception. Let's get started!

Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Adjectives and Adverbs & How to Use Have.

The Basics of "To Be"

Before we dive in, let's take a look at the basics of using "to be" in English. In English, "to be" is conjugated as "am," "is," and "are" depending on the subject of the sentence. Similarly, in Croatian, the verb "to be" is "biti," and it is conjugated as "sam," "si," "je," "smo," "ste," and "su" depending on the subject.

In Croatian, "to be" is used to identify or describe the subject of the sentence. For example:

• "Ja sam student." (I am a student.)
• "Ona je ljubazna." (She is kind.)

Let's take a closer look at how to conjugate the verb "biti" in Croatian in the present tense using the subject pronouns.

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Ja sam	yah sahm	I am
Ti si	tee see	You are (informal)
On/ona/ono je	ohn/oh-nah/oh-noh yeh	He/she/it is
Mi smo	mee smoh	We are
Vi ste	vee steh	You are (formal or plural)
Oni/one/ona su	oh-nee/oh-neh/oh-nah soo	They are

It is important to note that unlike in English where "is" and "are" can be used interchangeably, in Croatian, the verb "to be" needs to agree with the gender and number of the subject.

Using "To Be" in Sentences

Now that we understand the basics of conjugating "to be" in Croatian, let's explore how to use it in sentences. When using "to be" in Croatian, the verb always comes before the subject, unlike in English where it comes after.

For example:

• "Ja sam umoran." (I am tired.)
• "Ona je lijepa." (She is beautiful.)

Here are some more examples:

Croatian	English
On je liječnik.	He is a doctor.
Mi smo gladni.	We are hungry.
Vi ste pametni.	You are smart.
Oni su visoki.	They are tall.

Note that in Croatian, it is common to omit the subject of the sentence when it is implied, as in "On je liječnik" (He is a doctor) without repeating the subject pronoun.

Contractions

In Croatian, contractions are commonly used when conjugating "to be." The most common contractions are "sam" and "je." When followed by a pronoun or a name, they are contracted to create a smoother flow in spoken language.

For example:

• "Ja sam" (I am) is contracted to "Ja'sam"
• "On je" (He is) is contracted to "On'je"

Here are some more examples:

Croatian	English
Ja sam student.	I am a student.
On je sin.	He is a son.
Ona je medicinska sestra.	She is a nurse.
Mi smo prijatelji.	We are friends.

Dialogue

To illustrate the use of "to be" in context, here's a dialogue between two friends:

• Ana: "Kako si?" (How are you?)
• Marko: "Dobro sam, hvala. A ti?" (I'm good, thanks. And you?)
• Ana: "Ja sam također dobro." (I'm also good.)

Practice Makes Perfect!

To improve your knowledge of using "to be" in Croatian, practice is key. Make sentences using present tense verbs and try to incorporate "to be." You can also find many resources online to help you improve your Croatian here at Polyglot Club.

To further advance your Croatian Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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➡ 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. 😎

Other Lessons

• Pronouns
• Negation
• Conditional Mood
• Nouns
• Plurals
• Questions
• Give your Opinion
• Future Tense
• How to Use Have

Sources

• Serbo-Croatian grammar - Wikipedia
• The Accusative Case: Croatian Grammar Form In Detail
• Croatian language - Wikipedia