Making a New Imperfective Verb
Secondary imperfectivization creates an imperfective verb from a perfective one, often through a suffix and a stem change.
How It Works
Common pairs include otvoriti — otvarati, zapisati — zapisivati and kupiti — kupovati. The latter forms can present an ongoing process or repetition while preserving the relevant lexical event.
Patterns such as -ivati and -avati are useful clues, not universal conversion instructions. Vowels or consonants can change, and a plausible-looking new form is not automatically an existing verb.
Keep a prefixed verb’s meaning when learning its partner. Prepisati — prepisivati concerns copying or transcribing, not simply the more general pisati. Consult a dictionary for the actual pair and its senses.
Examples (3)
- Svakog jutra otvaram prozore.
Every morning I open the windows.
- Dok je predavač govorio, zapisivala sam bilješke.
While the lecturer spoke, I was taking notes.
- Nekad smo kupovali kruh u maloj pekarnici.
We used to buy bread in a small bakery.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Derivation and lexical exceptions qualify the simple idea of a predictable aspect pair.
Related Patterns
Practice Making a New Imperfective Verb in Bubblegum
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