Aspect Pairs

Level 3

Learn verbs in pairs, the imperfective first, the perfective second.

How It Works

ImperfectivePerfectiveMeaning
pisatinapisatiwrite
čitatipročitatiread
kupovatikupitibuy
jestipojestieat
davatidatigive

The imperfective shows an action in progress or a habit. The perfective shows one complete action, often with a result. The partner can be made with a prefix (pisati - napisati), a different ending (kupovati - kupiti) or a different stem.

Some verbs have no neat partner (imati is imperfective only), and some are used in both ways, especially newer verbs in -irati, such as parkirati. A dictionary shows the pair.

Examples (5)

  1. Pišem pismo.

    I am writing a letter.

    Imperfective: in progress.

  2. Napisao sam pismo.

    I have written a letter.

    Perfective: finished.

  3. Svaki dan kupujem hljeb.

    I buy bread every day.

    Kupovati for a habit.

  4. Kupit ću hljeb.

    I will buy bread.

    Kupiti for one act.

  5. Selma je pojela pitu.

    Selma ate the pie.

    Pojesti is finished.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Aspect PairsLevel 3

Learn This First

Verbs come in aspect pairs.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

pisatinapisatičitatipročitatikupovatikupitijestipojestidati