Motion Verbs With Prefixes

Level 4

Doći is to arrive, otići is to leave, ući is to go in, izaći is to go out and proći is to pass.

How It Works

PrefixPerfectiveImperfectiveMeaning
do-doćidolazitiarrive, come
od-otićiodlazitileave, go away
u-ućiulazitigo in
iz-izaćiizlazitigo out
pro-proćiprolazitipass by

The prefix often matches the preposition. Do- goes with do and the genitive (doći do kuće), od- with od and the genitive, u- with u and the accusative, and iz- with iz and the genitive: Ulazim u kafanu. Izlazim iz kuće. Other prepositions occur too, such as doći u Mostar.

In the past the forms are došao, otišao, ušao, izašao, prošao. In the present the imperfective partner does the work of saying what is happening now: Amir dolazi u šest.

Spelling changes at the joint: iz + ići becomes izaći and od + ići becomes otići.

Examples (5)

  1. Amir dolazi u šest.

    Amir arrives at six.

    Dolazi is the imperfective partner of doći.

  2. Lejla odlazi na posao.

    Lejla leaves for work.

    Odlazi means she is leaving.

  3. Ulazim u kafanu.

    I am going into the café.

    U goes with the prefix u- and the accusative.

  4. Selma izlazi iz kuće.

    Selma is going out of the house.

    Iz goes with iz- and the genitive.

  5. Autobus prolazi pored škole.

    The bus passes the school.

    Prolazi means it goes past.

Common Mistakes

  • Choosing the wrong direction prefix.

    Ušao sam iz sobe.
    Izašao sam iz sobe.

    Iz-, not u-, means going out of a place.

How It Connects

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

Motion Verbs With PrefixesLevel 4

Learn This First

Prefixes change motion verbs.

Words in This Pattern

ućiotićiizaćiproćidoćidolazitiodlazitiulazitiizlazitiprolazitiiz-