voljeti + Accusative / Infinitive

Liking People Things and Activities

Level 1

Voljeti commonly has present volim, voliš, voli, volimo, volite and vole. It expresses liking or love according to the referent and context.

How It Works

Volim kavu. names a thing that the speaker likes. Volim čitati. names an activity. The first complement is a noun in an object construction; the second is an infinitive.

With a person, voljeti can express love, but the force depends on the relationship and situation. Its English translation is not fixed independently of context.

Negate the finite verb with separate ne: Ne volim čekati. In this sentence, the speaker dislikes waiting; it does not directly issue a command to somebody else not to wait. Keep the distinction between liking, wanting and being able to do something.

Examples (4)

  1. Volim kavu.

    I like coffee.

    Kavu is an accusative object.

  2. Volim čitati.

    I like reading.

    Čitati is an infinitive naming an activity.

  3. Ana voli putovati.

    Ana likes travelling.

    Voli is third-person singular.

  4. Ne volimo čekati.

    We do not like waiting.

    The finite verb carries first-person plural agreement.

How It Connects

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

voljeti + Accusative / InfinitiveLevel 1Liking People Things and Activities

Learn This First

Contrast a liked noun as direct object with an activity expressed by an infinitive.

Words in This Pattern

voljeti