The Order Before the Verb

Level 3Sounds Like red pred glagolot: ne; ḱe; mi; go

The little words before a verb have fixed places: да → не → ќе or би → to-someone pronoun → object pronoun → verb. Ќе ти го донесам. (I will bring it to you.)

How It Works

The slots, from left to right:

  • да
  • не
  • ќе or би, or a form of сум in the perfect
  • to-someone pronoun: ми, ти, му, ѝ, ни, ви, им
  • object pronoun: ме, те, го, ја, нѐ, ве, ги, or се
  • the verb

Most sentences use only some slots, but the ones used always keep this order:

  • Ќе ти го донесам. (I will bring it to you.)
  • Не ми го кажа. (He did not tell me.)
  • Те молам да не ми го кажуваш. (Please do not tell me.)
  • Не би му го дал. (I would not give it to him.)
  • Не сум ја видел. (I have not seen her.)
  • Ќе ти се јавам. (I will call you.) The to-someone pronoun comes before се.

The future in the negative is usually made with нема да, and the pronouns follow да: Нема да ти ја дадам книгата. (see нема да).

Two pronouns: the to-someone pronoun is always first: ми го, ти ја, му ги (see ми го; ти ја; му ги).

Where the group goes: before a normal verb, even at the very start of a sentence (see кратки заменки на почетокот на реченицата). After a command, the pronouns follow the verb: Донеси ми го! (see заповеден начин + кратка заменка). In a question, ли comes after the whole group: Ќе ми го дадеш ли? (see ли по глаголот и заменките).

Examples (6)

  1. Ќе ти го донесам.

    I will bring it to you.

    Word by Word: Will to-you it I-bring.

  2. Не ми го кажа.

    He did not tell me.

    Word by Word: Not to-me it he-told.

    Не comes first, then ми, then го, then the verb.

  3. Те молам да не ми го кажуваш.

    Please do not tell me.

    Word by Word: You I-beg that not to-me it you-tell.

    Да comes before не.

  4. Нема да ти ја дадам книгата.

    I will not give you the book.

    Word by Word: Not-have that to-you it I-give book-the.

    Ја doubles the definite object книгата.

  5. Не би му го дал.

    I would not give it to him.

    Word by Word: Not would to-him it given.

  6. Ќе ти се јавам утре.

    I will call you tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Will to-you self I-call tomorrow.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the object pronoun before the to-someone pronoun.

    Ќе го ти донесам.
    Ќе ти го донесам.

    The to-someone pronoun always comes first: ти го, ми ја, му ги.

  • Putting не after the pronouns.

    Ми не го кажа.
    Не ми го кажа.

    Не goes in front of the whole group of short pronouns.

  • Putting the pronouns after a normal verb.

    Ќе донесам ти го.
    Ќе ти го донесам.

    Short pronouns follow the verb only after a command, as in Донеси ми го. With ќе and other normal verbs, they come before it.

How It Connects

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

The Order Before the VerbLevel 3

Learn This First

The order before the verb combines pronoun pairs, не and ќе.

Words in This Pattern