esmi / eimi

Old Verb Forms in -mi (Recognition)

Level 6

esmi = esu (I am), eimi = einu (I go), duomi = duodu (I give).

How It Works

1. The old forms. The ending -mi marked I in a few very old verbs:

  • esmi = esu (I am), from būti
  • eimi = einu (I go), from eiti
  • duomi = duodu (I give), from duoti
  • demi = dedu (I put), from dėti

They could also take prefixes and negation, as in neesmi (I am not) and nueimi (I go away).

2. Where you meet them. These forms appear in folk songs, older poetry and hymns. An old hymn line reads Esmi pakrikštytas (I am baptized). A related old form, esti (is, usually is), is still used in bookish writing.

3. Modern Lithuanian. The regular present tense of būti is esu, esi, yra. The form esi (you are) is the same in old and modern Lithuanian. Other parts of the old paradigm changed too, such as esme becoming esame.

4. Only a few verbs. Ordinary verbs never had -mi. Do not add it to verbs like skaityti or dirbti.

Examples (4)

  1. Aš esmi čia.

    I am here.

    Old style for Aš esu čia.

  2. Eimi per lauką.

    I am walking across the field.

    Old style for Einu per lauką.

  3. Duomi tau žiedą.

    I give you a ring.

    Old style for Duodu tau žiedą.

  4. Esmi pakrikštytas.

    I am baptized.

    An old hymn line. Modern Lithuanian: Esu pakrikštytas.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding -mi to an ordinary verb.

    Aš skaitomi knygą.
    Aš skaitau knygą.

    Only a few ancient verbs such as būti, eiti, duoti and dėti had -mi. Ordinary verbs use their normal endings.

  • Using esmi for we.

    Mes esmi studentai.
    Mes esame studentai.

    Esmi only means I am. The form for we is esame.

How It Connects

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

esmi / eimiLevel 6Old Verb Forms in -mi (Recognition)

Learn This First

Old -mi forms are recognized by comparison with the modern verbs they replace.

Words in This Pattern

būtieitiduoti