The Serbian present tense is difficult. I’ve heard this so many times. And let’s be honest- it can be challenging. But here’s some great news. It doesn’t have to be. The key is not to try to memorize all at once.
I still remember the time I started learning English. So if you feel overwhelmed, I feel you because I’ve been there. If you start learning the Serbian present tense and try to memorize all verb groups, singular and plural endings, and how to form the present stem you will feel lost.
Instead, focus on only one small step at a time. Today, we will learn only the Serbian present tense singular forms
When do we use the Serbian present tense?
We use it for:
- actions happening now
- regular activities
- facts
- general truths
How do we form the Serbian present tense?
It’s simple. We add the endings to the present stem.
How do we form the Serbian present tense?
It’s time to learn the singular endings. Let’s dive in.
If you look at the chart below, you will notice that in the 3rd person singular, there is no ending. Great news! Right? All you have to memorize for now is the ending for 1st person singular (-m) and 2nd person singular (-š).
Let’s apply the rules
Just a quick tip before we move on to applying the rules step: grab a pencil and a piece of paper, take notes from the blog, and write down the rules. This way, you will revise the rules and be ready for the next step.
Look at the image below and pay attention to the pronoun. Now, try to fill in the correct ending without looking at the rules or the answer key below.
Did you fill in the correct ending? Great job!
Practice makes perfect
Now that we are done with the boring part, it’s time for the final piece of the puzzle. Let’s practice and check what you’ve learned so far. As I mentioned before, my experience with learning English shaped the way I teach Serbian today. I always try to make the exercises as simple as possible. With this in mind, I designed 3 simple step-by-step exercises for complete beginners.
Answer key: on peva, ja pevam, ti pevaš, ono peva, ona peva
Answer key: ti čitaš, ona čita, on čita, ja čitam, ono čita
Answer key: ono gleda, ti gledaš, ona gleda, ja gledam, on gleda
Have you made some mistakes? Don’t stress about it. We are here to learn. And the best way to learn is by making mistakes. Grab a red pen and circle the mistakes. This way, you will memorize what you did wrong and avoid making the same mistakes again.
Most Serbian language learners would like to skip the boring grammar and go straight to speaking. The truth is the present tense is a great place to start if you wish to make your first setences in Serbian.
Let’s check what we learned today
- The usage
- The form
- The singular endings
- Practice
The Serbian grammar doesn’t seem challenging after all? If all puzzle pieces fit perfectly, I have something for you. 3 simple step-by-step exercises to help you revise and practice what you’ve learned today. A perfect cherry on the top? Don’t you think so?
Grab your free worksheet today, and I promise a new Serbian present tense post is just around the corner.
You can’t wait for the new blog post? I encourage you to check out Serbian Present Tense Worksheets (Prezent) I A1-A2 Grammar for Beginners
Happy learning!
