-em / -iem

Present Verbs in -em and -iem

Level 1

In this group, an e runs through most forms: píšem, píšeš, píše, píšeme, píšete. The they form ends in -ú, -u or -jú.

How It Works

This group has three common types. The middle forms end in -eš, -e, -eme and -ete, with ie in the -iem type (nesieš, nesie):

  • -iem, like niesť (to carry): nesiem, nesieš, nesie, nesieme, nesiete, nesú. Also brať (to take): beriem, berú, and viesť (to lead): vediem, vedú.
  • -em, like písať (to write): píšem, píšeš, píše, píšeme, píšete, píšu. Also začať (to begin): začnem, začnú, and plakať (to cry): plačem, plačú.
  • -jem, like piť (to drink): pijem, piješ, pije, pijeme, pijete, pijú. Also žiť (to live): žijem, žijú, and umyť (to wash): umyjem, umyjú.

The stem often looks different from the infinitive. Písať becomes píš-, plakať becomes plač-, brať becomes ber-, and začať becomes začn-. That is why dictionaries give the I form next to the infinitive.

In the they form, the ie disappears: nesiem, but nesú. The ending is a long -ú after a short syllable (berú, začnú) and a short -u after a long one, because of the rhythmic law (píšu).

Some very common irregular verbs look similar, like chcieť (chcem, chcú), ísť (idem, idú) and môcť (môžem, môžu). They have their own entries.

Examples (6)

  1. Píšem list babke.

    I'm writing a letter to my grandma.

    Písať changes its stem to píš- in the present.

  2. Čo piješ, čaj alebo kávu?

    What are you drinking, tea or coffee?

  3. Nesiem ti tú knihu.

    I'm bringing you that book.

    Niesť takes -iem for I.

  4. Beriem si dáždnik.

    I'm taking an umbrella.

  5. Moji starí rodičia žijú na dedine.

    My grandparents live in a village.

    Žiť has -j- in the stem, so they is žijú.

  6. Študenti píšu test.

    The students are writing a test.

    Pí- is long, so they is píšu with a short u.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a long ú after a long syllable in the they form.

    Oni píšú e-maily.
    Oni píšu e-maily.

    Pí- is already long, so the rhythmic law makes the ending a short -u.

  • Giving an -em verb the -iem ending.

    Ja píšiem úlohu.
    Ja píšem úlohu.

    Písať belongs to the -em type, so I write is píšem.

  • Using the he or she form for they.

    Deti pije mlieko.
    Deti pijú mlieko.

    Deti is plural, so the verb needs the they form pijú.

How It Connects

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-em / -iemLevel 1Present Verbs in -em and -iem

Learn This First

Before Present Verbs in -em and -iem, learn Present Verbs in -ám. -em and -iem verbs use the same person pattern with a different vowel.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.