Language/Serbian/Grammar/Verbs:-Past-Tense

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Serbian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verbs: Past Tense

Welcome to the lesson on Past Tense Verbs in Serbian! Understanding how to use the past tense is crucial for expressing actions that have already happened. Whether you're recounting a story, sharing your experiences, or simply talking about what you did yesterday, mastering the past tense will significantly enhance your conversational skills in Serbian.

In this lesson, we will cover:

The formation of past tense verbs in Serbian

Different verb conjugations based on gender

Examples of regular and irregular verbs

Practical exercises to reinforce your learning

Let's dive in!

Understanding the Past Tense in Serbian[edit | edit source]

The past tense in Serbian is quite different from English. It indicates actions that have already been completed in the past. In Serbian, verbs are conjugated based on the subject's gender and number, which can seem a bit tricky at first, but with practice, you'll get the hang of it!

Formation of Past Tense Verbs[edit | edit source]

To form the past tense in Serbian, you typically follow these steps:

1. Identify the verb stem: For most verbs, this is the base form without the infinitive ending (-ti).

2. Add the appropriate past tense ending: The endings depend on the gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and number (singular, plural) of the subject.

Here’s how the endings work:

Masculine Singular: Add -o to the stem

Feminine Singular: Add -la to the stem

Neuter Singular: Add -lo to the stem

Masculine Plural: Add -li to the stem

Feminine Plural: Add -le to the stem

Neuter Plural: Add -la to the stem

Examples of Conjugation[edit | edit source]

Let’s look at some examples to clarify this:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
raditi (to work) - radio	raditi - radio	I worked (masculine)
raditi (to work) - radila	raditi - radila	I worked (feminine)
raditi (to work) - radilo	raditi - radilo	It worked (neuter)
raditi (to work) - radili	raditi - radili	We worked (masculine)
raditi (to work) - radile	raditi - radile	We worked (feminine)
raditi (to work) - radila	raditi - radila	They worked (feminine)
doći (to come) - došao	doći - došao	He came (masculine)
doći (to come) - došla	doći - došla	She came (feminine)
doći (to come) - došlo	doći - došlo	It came (neuter)
doći (to come) - došli	doći - došli	They came (masculine)
govoriti (to speak) - govorio	govoriti - govorio	He spoke (masculine)
govoriti (to speak) - govorila	govoriti - govorila	She spoke (feminine)
govoriti (to speak) - govorilo	govoriti - govorilo	It spoke (neuter)
čitati (to read) - čitao	čitati - čitao	He read (masculine)
čitati (to read) - čitala	čitati - čitala	She read (feminine)
čitati (to read) - čitalo	čitati - čitalo	It read (neuter)
učiti (to learn) - učio	učiti - učio	He learned (masculine)
učiti (to learn) - učila	učiti - učila	She learned (feminine)
učiti (to learn) - učilo	učiti - učilo	It learned (neuter)
trčati (to run) - trčao	trčati - trčao	He ran (masculine)
trčati (to run) - trčala	trčati - trčala	She ran (feminine)
trčati (to run) - trčalo	trčati - trčalo	It ran (neuter)

Regular vs. Irregular Verbs[edit | edit source]

In Serbian, verbs can be categorized into regular and irregular verbs.

Regular verbs follow the pattern mentioned above consistently.

Irregular verbs, however, may not follow standard conjugation rules. Here are a few examples of irregular verbs in the past tense:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
biti (to be) - bio	biti - bio	He was (masculine)
biti (to be) - bila	biti - bila	She was (feminine)
biti (to be) - bilo	biti - bilo	It was (neuter)
ići (to go) - išao	ići - išao	He went (masculine)
ići (to go) - išla	ići - išla	She went (feminine)
ići (to go) - išlo	ići - išlo	It went (neuter)
videti (to see) - video	videti - video	He saw (masculine)
videti (to see) - videla	videti - videla	She saw (feminine)
videti (to see) - videlo	videti - videlo	It saw (neuter)

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now that you have a solid understanding of how the past tense works, let's put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises to help you practice:

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

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

1. Ona je _____ (raditi) ceo dan.

2. Mi smo _____ (ići) u restoran.

3. On je _____ (doći) kasno.

4. Ti si _____ (čitati) knjigu.

5. Oni su _____ (trčati) u parku.

Exercise 2: Match the Sentence[edit | edit source]

Match the Serbian sentence with the correct English translation.

1. Ja sam video film.

2. Ona je čitala knjigu.

3. Oni su išli na more.

4. Mi smo radili zajedno.

5. Ti si došao rano.

a. You came early.

b. We worked together.

c. They went to the seaside.

d. She read the book.

e. I saw the movie.

Exercise 3: Conjugate the Verbs[edit | edit source]

Conjugate the following verbs in the past tense for all genders and numbers.

1. igrati (to play)

2. pevati (to sing)

3. pisati (to write)

Exercise 4: Translate the Sentences[edit | edit source]

Translate the following sentences into Serbian.

1. She learned the language.

2. They were happy.

3. He ran fast.

Exercise 5: Create Your Own Sentences[edit | edit source]

Write five sentences in Serbian using the past tense about your last weekend. Make sure to use different verbs and include all genders.

Solutions to Exercises[edit | edit source]

Here are the solutions to the exercises provided above:

Solution to Exercise 1[edit | edit source]

1. Ona je radila ceo dan.

2. Mi smo išli u restoran.

3. On je došao kasno.

4. Ti si čitao knjigu.

5. Oni su trčali u parku.

Solution to Exercise 2[edit | edit source]

1 - e

2 - d

3 - c

4 - b

5 - a

Solution to Exercise 3[edit | edit source]

1. igrati (to play)

igrao (masculine)

igrala (feminine)

igralo (neuter)

igrali (masculine plural)

igrale (feminine plural)

2. pevati (to sing)

pevao (masculine)

pevala (feminine)

pevalo (neuter)

pevali (masculine plural)

pevale (feminine plural)

3. pisati (to write)

pisao (masculine)

pisala (feminine)

pisalo (neuter)

pisali (masculine plural)

pisale (feminine plural)

Solution to Exercise 4[edit | edit source]

1. Ona je naučila jezik.

2. Oni su bili srećni.

3. On je trčao brzo.

Solution to Exercise 5[edit | edit source]

(Answers will vary. Here’s an example:)

1. Ja sam video film.

2. Ona je čitala knjigu.

3. Oni su išli na more.

4. Mi smo radili u vrtu.

5. On je trčao u parku.

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations! You've completed the lesson on past tense verbs in Serbian. Remember, practice makes perfect. Keep using these verbs in conversation, and soon you'll be recounting your experiences with ease. If you have any questions or need clarification, feel free to reach out!

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

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

Videos[edit | edit source]

Serbian Verbs for Beginners | Present, Future and Past Tense ...[edit | edit source]

Sources[edit | edit source]

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

◀️ Verbs: Present Tense — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Greetings and Introductions ▶️

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