Language/Serbian/Grammar/Verbs:-Infinitives

Rate this lesson:

0.00

(0 votes)

Help - Comments

Serbian Grammar → Verbs: Conditional → Verbs: Infinitives

As a Serbian language teacher, I believe that understanding Serbian grammar is crucial to learning the language. In this lesson, we will explore the concept of infinitives in Serbian verbs. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand how to use infinitives in your Serbian conversations and express your ideas more accurately.

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Plurals & Be Polite.

Infinitives in Serbian

In Serbian, an infinitive is an unconjugated form of the verb, similar to the English "to" + verb construction (e.g. "to go"). Infinitives can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, depending on the context.

For example:

Infinitive acting as a noun: Ići je zabavno. (Going is fun.)
Infinitive acting as an adjective: Moja omiljena knjiga je čitati. (My favorite book is the one to read.)
Infinitive acting as an adverb: Dođi da gledamo film. (Come to watch a movie.)

In Serbian, infinitives are formed by removing the ending of the present tense verb and adding one of the following endings: -ti, -ći, -ati, or -jeti. For example:

Serbian	Infinitive
Radiš	raditi
Plivaš	plivati
Pečeš	pečenje

The last example shows that some verbs form their infinitives by adding -enje to the stem. These verbs usually end in -et.

Uses of Infinitives

Infinitives in Serbian can be used in many ways. Here are some of the most common uses:

As a subject

In Serbian, infinitives can function as the subject of a sentence. For example:

Raditi je zdravo. (Working is healthy.)

As a direct object

Infinitives can also act as a direct object of a verb:

Volim da pevam u karaokama. (I love to sing in karaoke.)

As indirect objects

Infinitives can be used as indirect objects of verbs, indicating the purpose or reason for the action:

Kupila sam novu haljinu da bih mogla izgledati lepo za rođendansku zabavu. (I bought a new dress to look nice at the birthday party.)

With prepositions

Infinitives are often used with prepositions such as za (for), od (from), do (until):

Kupila sam novu haljinu za rođendansku zabavu. (I bought a new dress for the birthday party.)
Hvala ti na poseti. (Thank you for the visit.)

Conclusion

Infinitives are an essential part of Serbian grammar that allows speakers to express their ideas accurately. By using infinitives, students of Serbian can communicate more effectively and fluently. In this lesson, we have explored the concept of infinitives in Serbian and their various uses in different contexts. Keep practicing and don't be afraid to use infinitives in your Serbian conversations!

Sources

Infinitive

Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Conditional Mood & Comaratives and Superlatives.

Table of Contents - Serbian Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Introduction to Serbian Grammar

Introduction to Serbian Vocabulary

Introduction to Serbian Culture

Pronouns: Possessive Pronouns

Shopping

Sports and Recreation

Adjectives: Declension

Jobs and Professions

Literature and Poetry

Verbs: Conditional

Entertainment and Media

Art and Artists

Other Lessons

Contributors

Maintenance script

Create a new Lesson