Imperfective and perfective verbs – Lesson 2
1) to do
raditi (radim), impf
uraditi (uradim), perf
I do my homework everyday. =
Radim domaći svaki dan.
I have to do my homework today. =
Moram da uradim domaći danas.
I was doing my homework last night. =
Radio sam domaći sinoć.
I did (have done) my
homework this morning. =
Uradio sam domaći jutros.
I will be doing my homework tonight. =
Radiću domaći večeras.
I will do my homework tonight. =
Uradiću domaći večeras.
Note that in English you can say I’ll do my homework, and this sentence could still be translated either way depending on the context, I just translated it like this here to emphasize the difference, because the actual difference is in Serbian, in English it’s just that same sentence
Just a reminder about the future tense here, it can be formed two different ways.
They can be used interchangeably, but the short form can only be in the first position in a sentence, you have to start your sentence with it.
I will do my homework tonight. =
Radiću domaći večeras.
Ja ću raditi domaći večeras.
ću, ćeš, će, ćemo, ćete, će + the infinitive
2) to think
razmišljati (razmišljam), impf
razmisliti (razmislim), perf
I think all the time. =
Stalno razmišljam.
I should think about it. =
Trebalo bi da razmislim o tome.
I was thinking about it. =
Razmišljao sam o tome.
I thought about it. =
Razmislio sam o tome.
I will be thinking about it. =
Razmišljaću o tome.
I will think about it. =
Razmisliću o tome.
3) to go
ići (idem) impf
otići (odem), perf
I go to work every day. =
Idem na posao svaki dan.
I should go to the dentist. =
Treba da odem kod zubara.
I was going to school when you called me. =
Išao/la sam u školu kada si me pozvala.
I went to the store. =
Otišao/la sam u prodavnicu.
I will be going there. =
Ići ću tamo.
I will go there. =
Otići ću tamo.
Another reminder about the future tense.
If the infinitive ends in -ći, like it does here you write ‘ići ću’ as 2 separate words.
4) to make
praviti (pravim), impf
napraviti (napravim), perf
I’m making sandwiches. =
Pravim sandviče.
I can make good sandwiches. =
Mogu da napravim dobre sendviče.
I was making sandwiches. =
Pravio/la sam sendviče.
I made sandwiches. =
Napravio/la sam sendviče.
I will be making sandwiches. =
Praviću sendviče.
I will make sandwiches. =
Napraviću sendviče.
5) to take
uzimati (uzimam), impf
uzeti (uzmem), perf
I’m taking the car now. =
Uzimam auto sada.
I want to take the car. =
Želim da uzmem auto.
I was taking the kids from the kindergarten. =
Uzimao/la sam decu iz obdaništa.
I took the car. =
Uzeo/la sam auto.
I will be taking the kids from the kindergarten. =
Uzimaću decu iz obdaništa.
I’ll take the car. =
Uzeću auto.