препишува / запишува
Imperfectives from Prefixed Verbs
Prefix + verb = new perfective: пише → препише (copy out). Add -ува for the imperfective: препишува. Учениците ги препишуваат задачите од таблата. (The pupils are copying the problems from the board.)
How It Works
Three steps.
- Start with a simple imperfective: пише (write).
- Add a prefix to get a new perfective meaning: препише (copy out), запише (write down), потпише (sign), опише (describe).
- Add -ува to get its imperfective: препишува, запишува, потпишува, опишува.
More pairs. преведе → преведува (translate), донесе → донесува (bring). A few verbs use other suffixes, such as продаде → продава; see aspect pairs with suffixes. Motion verbs follow the same idea: помине → поминува; see motion verbs with prefixes.
When to use each one. The perfective names one complete action: Запиши го бројот. (Write the number down.) The -ува verb is for something in progress or repeated: Секогаш запишувам нови зборови. A perfective present cannot describe what is happening now; see verb aspect.
The prefix changes the meaning. This is why you cannot go back to the simple verb. Пишува just means "writes". Препишува means "copies". To learn what the prefixes add, see verb prefixes and meaning.
Examples (6)
- Учениците ги препишуваат задачите од таблата.
The pupils are copying the problems from the board.
Word by Word: Pupils-the them copy problems-the from board-the.
- Секогаш запишувам нови зборови во тетратка.
I always write new words down in a notebook.
Word by Word: Always I-write-down new words in notebook.
- Таа преведува книги од англиски на македонски.
She translates books from English into Macedonian.
Word by Word: She translates books from English on Macedonian.
- Директорот ги потпишува писмата секое утро.
The director signs the letters every morning.
Word by Word: Director-the them signs letters-the every morning.
- Запиши го бројот, ќе ти треба.
Write the number down, you will need it.
Word by Word: Write-down it number-the, will to-you needs.
Запиши is perfective: one complete action.
- Се запишав на курс по македонски.
I signed up for a Macedonian course.
Word by Word: Myself I-wrote-down on course in Macedonian.
Се запише means "enroll" or "sign up".
Common Mistakes
Using the perfective for an action happening now.
Сега го запишам бројот.Сега го запишувам бројот.For something in progress, use the -ува imperfective. A perfective present needs a word such as да, ќе or ако before it.
Using the perfective for a habit.
Секој ден препишам по една страница.Секој ден препишувам по една страница.Repeated actions need the imperfective препишува.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Imperfectives from prefixed verbs combine prefixes and -ува.
Related Patterns
- Aspect Pairs With -ува / -аAspect Pairs with Suffixes
The general rule for building imperfectives with -ува and -а.
Level 3 - Aspect Pairs With Prefixes
The first step: a prefix that makes a perfective, as in чита → прочита.
Level 3 - пре- / раз- / до- / из-Verb Prefixes and Meaning
Explains what пре-, за- and other prefixes add to a verb.
Level 5 - Verb Aspect
The difference between perfective and imperfective verbs.
Level 2 - да / ќе / ако + Perfective VerbPerfective Verbs After Да Ќе and Ако
Where a perfective present such as запише can be used.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice препишува / запишува in Bubblegum
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