Language/Serbian/Grammar/Verbs:-Infinitives

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Serbian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verbs: Infinitives

Welcome to our lesson on infinitives in Serbian! Infinitives are an essential part of the language, acting as the base form of verbs. Understanding infinitives will not only help you form sentences more effectively but will also open up a whole new world of expression in Serbian. Whether you're dreaming of traveling to Serbia or simply want to connect with Serbian speakers, mastering infinitives is a crucial step on your journey.

In this lesson, we'll explore:

• The definition and importance of infinitives in Serbian.

• How infinitives are formed and used in sentences.

• Examples that illustrate various infinitive forms.

• Practical exercises to reinforce your understanding.

With this foundation, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the world of Serbian verbs. So, let's dive in!

What is an Infinitive?

An infinitive is the base form of a verb that is not conjugated. In Serbian, infinitives typically end in -ti. They are useful because they can function in various ways within a sentence, such as the subject or object. For instance, the infinitive "čitati" (to read) can be used in different contexts that we'll explore.

Importance of Infinitives in Serbian

Infinitives are fundamental for several reasons:

• Versatility: Infinitives can be used in various grammatical constructions.

• Foundation for Conjugation: They serve as the basis for all verb forms you will learn later.

• Communication: Knowing infinitives allows you to express intentions, desires, and actions clearly.

Forming Infinitives in Serbian

In Serbian, most infinitives are formed by adding the suffix -ti to the verb stem. However, there are some irregular verbs, which we will highlight.

Regular Infinitives

Most verbs in Serbian follow a regular pattern. Here are some common examples:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
читати	čitati	to read
писати	pisati	to write
говорити	govoriti	to speak
играти	igrati	to play
радити	raditi	to work
слушати	slušati	to listen
путовати	putovati	to travel
учити	učiti	to learn
купити	kupiti	to buy
продавати	prodavati	to sell

Irregular Infinitives

Some verbs do not follow the regular pattern. Here are a few examples:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
бити	biti	to be
имати	imati	to have
видети	videti	to see
ићи	ići	to go
хтети	hteti	to want

Using Infinitives in Sentences

Infinitives can be used in various ways within sentences. Below are some examples illustrating different contexts:

1. As the Subject:

• Читати је важно. (Čitati je važno.) - Reading is important.

2. As the Object:

• Желим да читам. (Želim da čitam.) - I want to read.

3. After Certain Verbs:

• Он воли да игра. (On voli da igra.) - He loves to play.

4. With Modal Verbs:

• Могу да идем. (Mogu da idem.) - I can go.

5. In Commands or Requests:

• Побијте! (Pobijte!) - To win!

6. Expressing Purpose:

• Идем у школу да учим. (Idem u školu da učim.) - I go to school to learn.

7. With Negation:

• Не знам да пливам. (Ne znam da plivam.) - I don’t know how to swim.

8. To Express Future Intentions:

• Планирам да путујем. (Planiram da putujem.) - I plan to travel.

9. After Adjectives:

• Спреман сам да покушам. (Spreman sam da pokušam.) - I am ready to try.

10. In Conditional Sentences:

• Ако будем имао време, прочитаћу. (Ako budem imao vreme, pročitacu.) - If I have time, I will read.

Practice Scenarios

Now that you've learned about infinitives, it's time to practice! Here are some exercises to help you reinforce your understanding.

Exercise 1: Identify the Infinitive

Read the sentences below and underline the infinitives.

1. Она жели да пије воду.

2. Ми волимо да играмо фудбал.

3. Он не може да дође.

4. Хоћу да учим српски.

5. Они планирају да путују.

Solution:

1. пије

2. играмо

3. дође

4. учим

5. путују

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct infinitive form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Он __________ (читати) књигу.

2. Она __________ (играти) тенис сваког дана.

3. Ми __________ (путовати) у Србију.

4. Они __________ (радити) заједно.

5. Я __________ (хтети) да идем кући.

Solution:

1. чита

2. игра

3. путујемо

4. раде

5. хтела

Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences into Serbian.

1. I want to learn Serbian.

2. Reading is my favorite hobby.

3. They can play football.

4. She plans to travel next year.

5. He loves to listen to music.

Solution:

1. Желим да учим српски.

2. Читање је мој омиљени хоби.

3. Они могу да играју фудбал.

4. Она планира да путује следеће године.

5. Он воли да слуша музику.

Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences

Write five sentences using infinitives in different contexts.

Example Answers:

1. Читати књиге је забавно.

2. Желим да пишем песме.

3. Они ће ићи у биоскоп.

4. Она не зна да пева.

5. Могу да трчим у парку.

Exercise 5: Choose the Correct Infinitive

Choose the correct infinitive to complete the sentences.

1. Он __________ (вести/вести) децу у школу.

2. Ми __________ (радити/радити) на пројекту.

3. Она __________ (желети/желети) да купи нову хаљину.

4. Они __________ (путовати/путовати) у Европу.

5. Она __________ (играти/играти) клавир.

Solution:

1. води

2. радимо

3. жели

4. путују

5. свира

Exercise 6: Match the Infinitives

Match the infinitives to their meanings.

| Serbian Infinitive | English Meaning |

|-------------------|----------------|

| читати | to read |

| писати | to write |

| говорити | to speak |

| играти | to play |

| радити | to work |

Solution:

1. читати - to read

2. писати - to write

3. говорити - to speak

4. играти - to play

5. радити - to work

Exercise 7: Transform the Sentences

Transform the following sentences by replacing the verb with its infinitive form.

1. Она чита књигу.

2. Они играју фудбал.

3. Ми слушамо музику.

4. Он пише писмо.

5. Она планира путовање.

Solution:

1. Она жели да чита књигу.

2. Они воле да играју фудбал.

3. Ми желимо да слушамо музику.

4. Он жели да пише писмо.

5. Она жели да планира путовање.

Exercise 8: Negative Infinitives

Convert the following sentences to use negative infinitives.

1. Он зна да плива.

2. Она може да дође.

3. Ми желимо да играмо.

4. Они планирају да путују.

5. Он жели да види.

Solution:

1. Он не зна да плива.

2. Она не може да дође.

3. Ми не желимо да играмо.

4. Они не планирају да путују.

5. Он не жели да види.

Exercise 9: Verb Matching

Match the verb with the corresponding infinitive.

| Verb | Infinitive |

|--------------|----------------|

| идем | __________ |

| желим | __________ |

| могу | __________ |

| знам | __________ |

| хтела | __________ |

Solution:

1. идем - ићи

2. желим - хтети

3. могу - моћи

4. знам - знати

5. хтела - хтети

Exercise 10: Verb Conjugation

Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense using the infinitive.

1. читати

2. писати

3. говорити

4. играти

5. радити

Solution:

1. читам, читаš, чита, читамо, читате, читају

2. пишем, пишеш, пише, пишемо, пишете, пишу

3. говорим, говориш, говори, говоримо, говорите, говоре

4. играм, играš, игра, играмо, играте, играју

5. радим, радиš, ради, радимо, радите, раде

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this lesson on Serbian infinitives! You've gained a foundational understanding of how infinitives function in the Serbian language. Remember, practice makes perfect! Use the exercises above to solidify your knowledge, and soon you’ll be using infinitives with confidence.

In our next lesson, we'll explore the future tense and how to express upcoming actions. Keep up the great work, and happy learning!

Table of Contents - Serbian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Grammar

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

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Vocabulary

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

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Culture

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

  ---

Pronouns: Possessive Pronouns

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

  ---

Shopping

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

  ---

Sports and Recreation

• Football in Serbia
• Winter Sports
• Music Festivals

  ---

Adjectives: Declension

• Verbs: Perfective and Imperfective
• Verbs: Reflexive Verbs

  ---

Jobs and Professions

• Places around Town
• Education and Learning

  ---

Literature and Poetry

• Medieval Serbian Literature
• Contemporary Serbian Poetry

  ---

Verbs: Conditional

• Verbs: Participles
• Verbs: Infinitives

  ---

Entertainment and Media

• Movies and Theater
• Music and Performances

  ---

Art and Artists

• Famous Serbian Painters
• Contemporary Serbian Art Scene

Sources

• 3 Groups of Serbian Verbs: the Present Tense - Serbonika
• 86 Top Serbian Verbs: Present & Past Tense Chart
• All Shapes of the Future Tense in Serbian and Croatian Language ...

Other Lessons

• Verbs: Past Tense
• Verbs: Present Tense
• Conditional Tense
• Indefinite Articles in Serbian
• Plural
• Verbs: Future Tense
• Pronouns
• Give your Opinion
• Pronouns: Personal Pronouns

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