Making an Imperfective Again

Level 5

A prefixed perfective verb can get a new imperfective partner by adding a suffix.

How It Works

PerfectiveImperfective
potpisatipotpisivati
zapisatizapisivati
pokazatipokazivati
otvoritiotvarati
ostatiostajati

The trouble is that a prefix made the verb perfective, so it usually cannot say that the action goes on or repeats. The suffix fixes that.

The endings are -ivati or -avati or -ati or -ajati, and the stem may change a little. There is no neat rule, so learn the pairs. The present of the new verb is regular: potpisujem, potpisuješ, potpisuje.

Compare Otvorit ću radnju u osam (one future opening) with Svako jutro otvaram radnju u osam (every morning). The first uses the perfective, the second the new imperfective.

Examples (5)

  1. Svaki dan potpisujem papire.

    I sign papers every day.

    Repeated: potpisivati.

  2. Zapisujem nove riječi.

    I am writing down new words.

    Zapisivati for a habit.

  3. Selma otvara radnju u osam.

    Selma opens the shop at eight.

    Otvarati from otvoriti.

  4. Pokazuje nam grad.

    He is showing us the city.

    Pokazivati for in progress.

  5. Često ostajem kod kuće.

    I often stay at home.

    Ostajati from ostati.

How It Connects

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

Making an Imperfective AgainLevel 5

Learn This First

Imperfective verbs from perfective ones.

Words in This Pattern

potpisatipotpisivatizapisatizapisivatipokazatipokazivatiotvoritiotvaratiostatiostajati