The Conditional With Bih

Level 4

bih, bi, bi, bismo, biste, bi + past participle.

How It Works

PersonHelperExample
jabihhtio bih, htjela bih
tibimogao bi
on, onabimogla bi
mibismomogli bismo
vibistemogli biste
onibimogli bi

Questions put li after the helper: Biste li mi pomogli? The negative is ne bih, in two words: Ne bih išao sam.

This form is polite. Htio bih kafu sounds softer and more polite than Hoću kafu. It is used in requests, advice and wishes.

The helper bih is for ja. The other singular persons and the third plural use bi.

Examples (5)

  1. Htjela bih jednu kafu, molim.

    I would like one coffee, please. (a woman speaking)

    Htjela bih is polite.

  2. Volio bih posjetiti Jajce.

    I would like to visit Jajce.

    Volio bih is followed by an infinitive.

  3. Mogli bismo ići u Bihać.

    We could go to Bihać.

    Bismo is the mi form.

  4. Šta biste jeli?

    What would you eat?

    Biste is the vi form.

  5. Ne bih išao sam.

    I would not go alone.

    Ne stays apart from bih.

Common Mistakes

  • Using bi for ja.

    Ja bi htio kafu.
    Ja bih htio kafu.

    Writing and careful speech use bih for ja. You may hear bi for ja in casual talk.

  • Wrong gender in the participle.

    Ona bi došao.
    Ona bi došla.

    The participle matches the speaker or subject.

How It Connects

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The Conditional With BihLevel 4

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The conditional uses bih.

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način