da With the Present

Level 3

Da and the present tense does the same job as an infinitive, and it is very common in speech.

How It Works

Bosnian has two ways to say the same thing.

InfinitiveDa and the present
Moram ići.Moram da idem.
Hoću jesti.Hoću da jedem.
Mogu doći.Mogu da dođem.

In careful writing the infinitive is common. In speech many people prefer da and the present. The learner can use both, and neither is an error.

With da the second verb has its own ending: Moram da idem (I), Moraš da ideš (you), Moramo da idemo (we). The ending shows the person even when the subject word is missing.

Da and the present is also the way to say the doer of the second verb differs from the first: Hoću da dođeš (I want you to come). The infinitive cannot do that. That use is in a later entry.

Do not put the infinitive after da. Write da idem, not "da ići".

Examples (5)

  1. Hoću da jedem.

    I want to eat.

    Da jedem replaces the infinitive jesti.

  2. Moram da idem kući.

    I have to go home.

    Idem has the ending for ja.

  3. Možeš da dođeš u šest.

    You can come at six.

    Dođeš has the ending for ti.

  4. Hajde da pijemo kafu.

    Let us have a coffee.

    Pijemo is the mi form.

  5. Amir hoće da spava.

    Amir wants to sleep.

    Spava is the on form.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting an infinitive after da.

    Moram da ići.
    Moram da idem.

    After da the verb is in the present with a personal ending.

How It Connects

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

da With the PresentLevel 3

Learn This First

A da clause uses the present.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

daprezent