Present in -em

Level 1

Add -em, -eš, -e, -emo, -ete, -u to the present stem.

How It Works

This group has endings with e:

PersonForm
japišem
tipišeš
on, ona, onopiše
mipišemo
vipišete
oni, one, onapišu

The infinitive and the present stem often look different. Think of pisati (to write) and piš-, or kazati (to say) and kaž-. Verbs in -ovati and -evati, like putovati, use -ujem (putujem) and are covered in their own entry at Level 2.

Common verbs in this group include pisati (pišem), plakati (plačem), doći (dođem), kazati (kažem) and ići (idem). Since the stem can change, it is best to learn each verb's ja form from the start.

Examples (5)

  1. Pišem poruku Lejli.

    I am writing a message to Lejla.

    Pisati has the stem piš-.

  2. Šta piše Amir?

    What is Amir writing?

    The on form ends in -e.

  3. Idemo u Mostar.

    We are going to Mostar.

    Ići uses the -emo ending.

  4. Selma i Adnan pišu pisma.

    Selma and Adnan are writing letters.

    The oni form ends in -u.

  5. Gdje ideš?

    Where are you going?

    The ti form ends in -eš.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the infinitive stem.

    Pisam pismo.
    Pišem pismo.

    Pisati changes its stem. Learn pišem as the ja form.

How It Connects

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

Present in -emLevel 1

Learn This First

The present tense needs the personal pronouns.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

pisatikazatiputovatiićiprezent