Language/Czech/Grammar/Introduction-to-Verbs

◀️ Possessive Pronouns — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Present Tense ▶️

Czech → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Verbs

Welcome to the exciting world of Czech verbs! In this lesson, we will embark on a journey to understand one of the fundamental elements of the Czech language: verbs. As you may know, verbs are the action words that breathe life into sentences. They allow us to express what we do, what happens, and how things change. Understanding verbs is crucial for building your Czech skills, as they are the backbone of communication.

In this lesson, we will cover the following key points:

• What is a verb?

• Types of verbs in Czech

• Basic verb conjugation

• Conjugation of regular verbs in the present tense

• Common irregular verbs

• Practical examples and practice exercises

By the end of this lesson, you should feel comfortable identifying and using basic Czech verbs. So, let’s get started!

What is a Verb?

Verbs are words that describe actions, occurrences, or states of being. In Czech, as in English, verbs are essential for forming sentences. They provide the action in a sentence, and without them, it's like trying to build a house without a foundation.

For example, in the sentence "I eat an apple":

• "Eat" is the verb that tells us what action is happening.

In Czech, this would be "Jím jablko", where "Jím" (I eat) is the verb.

Verbs can change form depending on who is performing the action (the subject) and when the action is taking place (tense). We will explore how conjugation works in Czech, which is a bit different from English.

Types of Verbs in Czech

Czech verbs can be divided into several categories, but for beginners, the most important distinctions are as follows:

Regular and Irregular Verbs

• Regular Verbs: These verbs follow a predictable pattern when conjugated.

• Irregular Verbs: These verbs do not follow standard conjugation rules and must be memorized.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

• Transitive Verbs: These verbs require a direct object (e.g., "I read a book").

• Intransitive Verbs: These verbs do not require a direct object (e.g., "I sleep").

Basic Verb Conjugation

In Czech, verbs change form based on the subject pronoun (I, you, he/she/it, we, you plural, they). This change is called conjugation.

Conjugation Patterns

Czech verbs typically follow two main conjugation patterns, based on their infinitive endings: -at, -it, -et.

Conjugation of Regular Verbs

Let’s take a look at how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense. We will focus on the verb "mít" (to have) as an example.

Czech	Pronunciation	English
já mám	jaː ma:m	I have
ty máš	tiː ma:ʃ	you (informal) have
on/ona/ono má	on/ona/ono ma:	he/she/it has
my máme	miː ma:mɛ	we have
vy máte	viː ma:tɛ	you (formal/plural) have
oni/ony mají	o:ni/o:ny ma:ju	they have

Now, let's take the verb "hrát" (to play), which is a regular verb ending in -at.

Czech	Pronunciation	English
já hraju	jaː hraju	I play
ty hraješ	tiː hrajeʃ	you (informal) play
on/ona/ono hraje	on/ona/ono hraje	he/she/it plays
my hrajeme	miː hraje:mɛ	we play
vy hrajete	viː hraje:tɛ	you (formal/plural) play
oni/ony hrají	o:ni/o:ny hraji	they play

Common Irregular Verbs

Now, let’s look at some common irregular verbs that you will encounter. These verbs do not follow the standard conjugation patterns and require special attention.

• Být (to be)

• Jít (to go)

• Mít (to have)

Here is how "být" is conjugated in the present tense:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
já jsem	jaː jsem	I am
ty jsi	tiː jiː	you (informal) are
on/ona/ono je	on/ona/ono jɛ	he/she/it is
my jsme	miː jsmɛ	we are
vy jste	viː jstɛ	you (formal/plural) are
oni/ony jsou	o:ni/o:ny joʊ	they are

Practical Examples

To reinforce your understanding, here are some practical examples using regular and irregular verbs in various contexts.

1. "I eat bread." - "Jím chléb."

2. "They play football." - "Oni hrají fotbal."

3. "I am tired." - "Jsem unavený."

4. "You go to school." - "Ty jdeš do školy."

5. "She has a cat." - "Ona má kočku."

6. "We are happy." - "My jsme šťastní."

7. "He reads a book." - "On čte knihu."

8. "I drink water." - "Piji vodu."

9. "You (plural) are kind." - "Vy jste laskaví."

10. "They are friends." - "Oni jsou přátelé."

Now let's see how these sentences can be structured to emphasize the verbs in different contexts.

More Practical Examples

To further illustrate the use of verbs, here’s a table with diverse sentences:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
Já píšu dopis.	jaː pi:ʃu dopis	I am writing a letter.
Ty čteš noviny.	tiː tʃtɛʃ noviny	You are reading the newspaper.
On spí.	on spiː	He is sleeping.
My jdeme do kina.	miː jɛdɛm do kina	We are going to the cinema.
Oni hrají tenis.	o:ni hrajiː tɛnɪs	They are playing tennis.
Ona pracuje v kanceláři.	ona praʧuje v kanceláři	She works in an office.
Ty jsi učitel.	tiː jsi uːʧɪtɛl	You are a teacher.
Já chci jít ven.	jaː ʧɪ tʃɪː vɛn	I want to go outside.
Vy máte skvělý nápad.	viː ma:tɛ skvɛlɪ nápad	You have a great idea.
On je můj nejlepší přítel.	on jɛ muɪj nɛjlɛpʃɪ pr̩ɪtɛl	He is my best friend.

Exercises

Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are ten exercises that will help you practice what you’ve learned about Czech verbs.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Já ___ (jít) do obchodu.

2. Ty ___ (hrát) na kytaru.

3. My ___ (být) šťastní.

4. Oni ___ (číst) knihu.

5. Ona ___ (mít) psa.

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences from English to Czech.

1. I want to eat.

2. We are going to the park.

3. You (plural) have a car.

4. He plays basketball.

5. They are my friends.

Exercise 3: Verb Conjugation

Conjugate the following verbs in all pronouns (já, ty, on/ona/ono, my, vy, oni/ony) for the verb "mít" (to have) and "být" (to be).

Exercise 4: Identify the Verb

Identify the verb in the following sentences and state its form (present tense, past tense, etc.).

1. Já jsem učitel.

2. Oni hrají fotbal.

3. Ty jdeš do školy.

4. My jíme jablka.

5. Ona spí.

Exercise 5: Match the Sentences

Match the English sentences with their Czech translations.

1. I am happy.

2. They are playing.

3. She has a cat.

4. We are going home.

5. You read a book.

Exercise 6: Create Your Own Sentences

Create your own sentences using the verbs "být" and "mít" in the present tense for each pronoun.

Exercise 7: Verb Tenses

Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses to complete the sentences.

1. Já ___ (být) unavený.

2. Ty ___ (hrát) tenis.

3. My ___ (mít) nové auto.

4. Oni ___ (jít) na procházku.

5. Ona ___ (číst) knihu.

Exercise 8: Verb Translation

Translate the following Czech verbs into English.

1. jíst

2. pít

3. spát

4. hrát

5. pracovat

Exercise 9: Fill in the Correct Conjugation

Fill in the correct conjugation of the verb "hrát" in the present tense for each pronoun.

Exercise 10: Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences in the present tense, changing the subject where needed.

1. Ona čte noviny. (He)

2. My jdeme do školy. (You)

3. Já mám kočku. (They)

4. Ty spíš. (We)

5. Oni hrají tenis. (She)

Solutions and Explanations

Now let’s go through the solutions to the exercises for clarity and understanding.

Exercise 1 Solutions

1. jdu

2. hraješ

3. jsme

4. čtou

5. má

Exercise 2 Solutions

1. Chci jíst.

2. Jdeme do parku.

3. Máte auto.

4. Hraje basketbal.

5. Oni jsou mí přátelé.

Exercise 3 Solutions

"mít": já mám, ty máš, on/ona/ono má, my máme, vy máte, oni/ony mají

"být": já jsem, ty jsi, on/ona/ono je, my jsme, vy jste, oni/ony jsou

Exercise 4 Solutions

1. učitel, present tense

2. hrají, present tense

3. jdeš, present tense

4. jíme, present tense

5. spí, present tense

Exercise 5 Solutions

1 - e, 2 - d, 3 - c, 4 - a, 5 - b

Exercise 6 Solutions

(Your own sentences may vary; here are examples:)

1. Já jsem šťastný. 2. Ty máš knihu.

Exercise 7 Solutions

1. jsem

2. hraješ

3. máme

4. jdou

5. čte

Exercise 8 Solutions

1. to eat

2. to drink

3. to sleep

4. to play

5. to work

Exercise 9 Solutions

(Your own answers may vary; here’s an example.)

já hraji, ty hraješ, on hraje, my hrajeme, vy hrajete, oni hrají

Exercise 10 Solutions

1. On čte noviny.

2. Vy jdete do školy.

3. Oni mají kočku.

4. My spíme.

5. Ona hraje tenis.

Congratulations! You've taken a big step in your Czech language journey by learning about verbs. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be able to express yourself in Czech with confidence. In our next lesson, we will dive deeper into the present tense, so stay tuned!

Table of Contents - Czech Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Consonants
• Vowels
• Accents and Special Characters

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Introduction to Nouns
• Personal Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Verbs

• Introduction to Verbs
• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Introduction to Adjectives
• Introduction to Adverbs
• Comparative and Superlative Forms

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings and Farewells
• Asking for and Giving Information
• Small Talk and Expressing Likes and Dislikes

  ---

At the Restaurant

• Ordering Food
• Asking for the Bill and Tipping
• Dining Etiquette

  ---

Daily Life

• Shopping
• Transportation
• Health and Medical Emergencies

  ---

History and Traditions

• History and Czech Lands
• Festivals and Celebrations
• Czech Cuisine

  ---

Art and Heritage

• Czech Literature
• Architecture and Landmark
• Czech Film and Music

Sources

• A Beginner's Guide to Basic Czech Grammar
• Czech language - Wikipedia
• Outline of Czech Grammar
• Grammar | Czech Time

Other Lessons

• How to use the Modal Verb (Can)
• Accusative Case in Czech
• Introduction to Adverbs
• Introduction to Nouns
• Plurals
• Possessive Pronouns
• Accents and Special Characters
• Comparative and Superlative Forms
• Verb There to be in Czech

◀️ Possessive Pronouns — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Present Tense ▶️