morati / trebati / smjeti

Must Need and Be Allowed

Level 2

Morati expresses having to do something, trebati expresses needing to, and smjeti expresses being allowed to. Their negatives do not mean the same thing.

How It Works

Use Moram otići. for an obligation and Trebam otići. for a need. Present forms include moram/moraš/mora, trebam/trebaš/treba and smijem/smiješ/smije.

Negation changes the meaning of the modal itself. Ne moram doći. removes an obligation; Ne smijem doći. denies permission. Neither expression can replace the other without changing the message.

Trebati has several constructions. Personal Trebam kupiti kruh. differs from impersonal Treba kupiti kruh. and from Treba mi kruh., where the needed thing is the subject. Learn these frames separately.

Examples (4)

  1. Moram otići sada.

    I have to leave now.

    Moram expresses necessity.

  2. Ne moraš čekati.

    You do not have to wait.

    The obligation is absent; waiting is not forbidden.

  3. Ne smijemo ući.

    We are not allowed to enter.

    Smjeti expresses permission.

  4. Trebam kupiti kruh.

    I need to buy bread.

    Personal trebam combines with an infinitive.

How It Connects

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

morati / trebati / smjetiLevel 2Must Need and Be Allowed

Learn This First

Necessity, need and permission use the established modal complement frame.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

moratitrebatismjeti