nemam With the Genitive

Not Having Something

Level 2

Nemam + genitive: nemam brata, nemam sestre.

How It Works

Nemam is the negative of imam (I have). It is one word, and it takes the genitive.

PersonFormExample
janemamNemam brata.
tinemašNemaš vremena.
on, onanemaOna nema auta.
minemamoNemamo hljeba.
vinemateNemate pitanja.
oninemajuNemaju kuće.

The genitive is the standard choice and the safest one for a learner. It also works with plural nouns and with names of people. After other negated verbs both the genitive and the accusative can occur, but learn nemam with the genitive.

The past is nisam imao or nisam imala with the same genitive: Nisam imao vremena.

Examples (5)

  1. Nemam brata.

    I have no brother.

    Brat becomes brata.

  2. Moja prijateljica nema auta.

    My friend has no car.

    The third person is nema, and auto becomes auta.

  3. Nemam vremena danas.

    I have no time today.

    Vrijeme becomes vremena.

  4. Nemam pitanja.

    I have no questions.

    Pitanje becomes pitanja.

  5. Nemamo hljeba.

    We have no bread.

    Hljeb becomes hljeba.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the nominative after nemam.

    Nemam brat.
    Nemam brata.

    The thing that is missing goes in the genitive.

How It Connects

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

nemam With the GenitiveLevel 2Not Having Something

Learn This First

Nemam takes the genitive.

Words in This Pattern

nematiimatigenitiv