Aspect Pairs With Different Stems
Some of the most common verbs have partners that look different: доаѓа (comes, is coming) and дојде (comes once, came), оди and отиде (go), вели and рече (say).
How It Works
Most aspect pairs are linked by a prefix (видски парови со префикс) or a suffix (видски парови со -ува; -а). A handful of very frequent verbs are less regular. Their stems change, and in one pair the two verbs are different words.
Pairs to learn by heart (imperfective — perfective):
- доаѓа — дојде (come)
- наоѓа — најде (find)
- оди — отиде (go)
- вели — рече (say): two different words
- дава — даде (give)
- зема — земе (take): only the verb class changes, but the aorist is irregular: зедов (I took)
Other everyday pairs, such as кажува — каже (tell), follow the -ува pattern but are just as common, so it helps to learn them together with this group.
Using them: the imperfective goes in the plain present for habits and actions happening now: Секое лето одиме на море. The perfective goes after ќе, да or ако, and in the aorist for one finished past event: Минатото лето отидовме во Охрид. · Сакам да дојдам.
Irregular past forms: several perfectives in this group take the -ов aorist (see аорист: купив; прочитав; дојдов): дојдов (I came), најдов (I found), отидов (I went), реков (I said). Their l-forms are irregular too: дошол, нашол, отишол (see л-форма: -л; -ла; -ло; -ле). How the motion verbs are used in real situations is covered in оди; дојде; замине; се врати.
Examples (6)
- Секој ден доаѓа во девет, но вчера дојде во десет.
She comes at nine every day, but yesterday she came at ten.
Word by Word: Every day comes at nine, but yesterday came at ten.
- Секое лето одиме на море, а минатото лето отидовме во Охрид.
Every summer we go to the seaside, and last summer we went to Ohrid.
Word by Word: Every summer we-go on sea, and last-the summer we-went to Ohrid.
- Тој секогаш вели „здраво“, но вчера не рече ништо.
He always says hello, but yesterday he said nothing.
Word by Word: He always says "hello", but yesterday not said nothing.
Вели and рече share a meaning but not a stem.
- Никогаш не ги наоѓам клучевите. Каде ги најде?
I never find my keys. Where did you find them?
Word by Word: Never not them I-find keys-the. Where them found-you?
- Мајка ми секогаш ми дава пари, а вчера ми даде сто денари.
My mother always gives me money, and yesterday she gave me a hundred denars.
Word by Word: Mother my always to-me gives money, and yesterday to-me gave hundred denars.
- Обично земам такси, но денес зедов автобус.
I usually take a taxi, but today I took the bus.
Word by Word: Usually I-take taxi, but today I-took bus.
Зедов is the irregular aorist of земе.
Common Mistakes
Using the perfective present for a daily habit.
Секој ден дојдам на работа во девет.Секој ден доаѓам на работа во девет.Дојдам is perfective and cannot describe a habit on its own. A repeated action needs the imperfective доаѓам.
Using the imperfective present for one finished event in the past.
Вчера ми дава пари.Вчера ми даде пари.Дава is present tense, so it does not fit a plain statement about yesterday. One finished gift yesterday needs the aorist of the perfective: даде.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Different-stem pairs follow the regular pairs.
Related Patterns
- Aspect Pairs With Prefixes
The most common way to form a pair is with a prefix, as in чита → прочита.
Level 3 - оди / дојде / замине / се вратиComing and Going
Shows how the motion pairs доаѓа / дојде and оди / отиде are used in everyday situations.
Level 3 - Verb Aspect
Explains the difference in meaning between the two members of each pair.
Level 2 - The Aorist Past
Many perfectives here take the -ов aorist: дојдов, најдов, реков.
Level 2 - The L-Form
The l-forms of these verbs are irregular: дошол, нашол, отишол.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice Aspect Pairs With Different Stems in Bubblegum
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