nést / nosit

Unidirectional and Multidirectional Carrying

Level 3

Czech uses two different verbs for 'to carry': nést for a single trip in one direction, and nosit for habitual carrying or wearing clothes.

How It Works

1. Conjugation, Past, and Future Tense

  • Nést: Present: nesu, neseš, nese, neseme, nesete, nesou. Past: nesl, nesla, neslo, nesli/nesly/nesla (e.g., nesl jsem). Because it is a determinate motion verb, its future tense uses the prefix po-: ponesu (I will carry).
  • Nosit: Present: nosím, nosíš, nosí, nosíme, nosíte, nosí. Past: nosil, nosila, nosilo, nosili/nosily/nosila (e.g., nosil jsi). Its future tense uses the auxiliary verb: budu nosit (I will carry/wear regularly).

2. Grammatical Case
Both verbs require a direct object in the accusative case (e.g., nesu tašku - I am carrying a bag).

3. The Concept of 'Wearing'
Czech conceptualizes wearing as a habitual relationship with an object. Therefore, nosit means 'to wear' (e.g., glasses, a beard, or a style of clothing). However, to say what someone is wearing at this exact moment, use the phrase mít na sobě (to have on).

4. Prefixes and Aspect
When you add a directional prefix, you create a true aspectual pair. For example, adding při- (towards) creates the perfective přinést (to bring once). Note that when forming the imperfective counterpart, the root nos- undergoes vowel lengthening and consonant mutation, becoming -nášet, creating přinášet (to bring regularly). Do not use přinosit for this meaning.

5. Contrast with other motion verbs
Do not confuse carrying by hand with transporting by vehicle (vézt/vozit) or leading a person or animal (vést/vodit).

Examples (4)

  1. Nesu těžkou tašku domů.

    I am carrying a heavy bag home.

    Word by Word: I-carry heavy bag home.

    Uses 'nést' because it is a single, unidirectional action happening right now.

  2. Každý den nosí dětem snídani do pokoje.

    Every day he carries breakfast to the children's room.

    Word by Word: Every day he-carries to-children breakfast into room.

    Uses 'nosit' because the action is repeated and habitual.

  3. Nosím brýle už od dětství.

    I have worn glasses since childhood.

    Word by Word: I-wear glasses already since childhood.

    Uses 'nosit' to express the habitual state of wearing an accessory.

  4. Ponesu ten kufr za tebe.

    I will carry that suitcase for you.

    Word by Word: I-will-carry that suitcase for you.

    The future tense of the determinate verb 'nést' is formed with the prefix 'po-' (ponesu), not with 'budu'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'budu' for one simple future trip with 'nést'.

    Budu nést ten batoh.
    Ponesu ten batoh.

    The plain future of the determinate verb 'nést' is usually formed with the prefix 'po-' (ponesu, poneseš...). 'Budu nést' is possible, but it means 'I will be carrying' (an ongoing action) or fits abstract objects, as in 'budu nést následky'.

  • Using 'nosit' to describe an outfit someone is currently wearing.

    Dnes nosím nový svetr.
    Dnes mám na sobě nový svetr.

    'Nosit' means to wear something habitually or generally. For a temporary state (what you have on right now), use the phrase 'mít na sobě'.

  • Using the present tense of 'nosit' for one future carrying.

    Zítra to nosím.
    Zítra to ponesu.

    'Nosit' means repeated or habitual carrying, so the present 'nosím' does not describe one trip tomorrow. For one trip, use the future of 'nést': 'ponesu'. To say 'bring', use a prefixed verb like 'přinést'.

How It Connects

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

nést / nositLevel 3Unidirectional and Multidirectional Carrying

Learn This First

To understand the difference between 'nést' and 'nosit', learners must first grasp the general Czech concept of unidirectional versus multidirectional motion, typically learned through 'jít' and 'chodit'. Additionally, they need to be familiar with the specific conjugation patterns for both verbs to use them in sentences.

Words in This Pattern

néstnosit