moram, mogu, smijem + Infinitive

Modal Verbs with the Infinitive

Level 2

Modal verbs say must, can, may and want, and the next verb stays in the dictionary form.

How It Works

VerbMeaning
moramI must
moguI can
smijemI am allowed
hoćuI want

Only the modal changes with the person: moram, moraš, mora, moramo, morate, moraju. The infinitive stays: Moramo raditi.

Mind the negative. Ne moram means I do not have to. Ne smijem means I must not, I am not allowed. They are very different.

Both the infinitive and da with the present are good Bosnian. This course uses the infinitive first. The words moći and doći end in -ći, and they keep that ending in the infinitive: Mogu doći.

Examples (5)

  1. Moram ići.

    I have to go.

    Moram plus the infinitive.

  2. Mogu doći u šest.

    I can come at six.

    Doći keeps its full form.

  3. Smijem li ući?

    May I come in?

    Smijem asks permission.

  4. Hoću jesti.

    I want to eat.

    Hoću plus the infinitive.

  5. Ne smijemo kasniti.

    We must not be late.

    Ne smijemo is a prohibition.

Common Mistakes

  • Mixing up ne moram and ne smijem

    Ovdje ne moraš pušiti.
    Ovdje ne smiješ pušiti.

    Ne moraš means you do not have to; for a ban, use ne smiješ.

How It Connects

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

moram, mogu, smijem + InfinitiveLevel 2Modal Verbs with the Infinitive

Learn This First

Modal verbs take an infinitive.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

moratimoćismjetihtjetiinfinitiv