The Supine (Namenilnik) Usage
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Supine is used after verbs of motion to express purpose, ending in -t or -č.
- Use it after motion verbs: Grem spat (I am going to sleep).
- It only appears with verbs like iti, priti, peljati, poslati.
- It is indeclinable and never changes form regardless of the subject.
Supine Formation
| Infinitive | Supine | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
delati
|
delat
|
to work
|
|
pisati
|
pisat
|
to write
|
|
kupiti
|
kupit
|
to buy
|
|
peči
|
peč
|
to bake
|
|
iti
|
it
|
to go
|
|
priti
|
prid
|
to come
|
|
iskati
|
iskat
|
to search
|
|
plavati
|
plavat
|
to swim
|
Meanings
The supine is a non-finite verb form used exclusively after verbs of motion to indicate the purpose of that motion.
Purpose of Motion
Indicates the goal or intention of a movement.
“Grem spat.”
“Prišel je pomagat.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Motion Verb + Supine
|
Grem delat.
|
|
Negative
|
Ne + Motion Verb + Supine
|
Ne grem delat.
|
|
Question
|
Motion Verb + Supine?
|
Greš delat?
|
|
Past Tense
|
Motion Verb (past) + Supine
|
Šel sem delat.
|
|
Future Tense
|
Motion Verb (future) + Supine
|
Šel bom delat.
|
|
Imperative
|
Motion Verb (imp) + Supine
|
Pojdi delat!
|
Formalitätsspektrum
Odhajam na delo. (Daily life)
Grem delat. (Daily life)
Grem delat. (Daily life)
Šibam delat. (Daily life)
The Supine Nexus
Purpose
- delat to work
- kupit to buy
- spat to sleep
Infinitive vs Supine
Beispiele nach Niveau
Grem spat.
I am going to sleep.
Grem jest.
I am going to eat.
Grem tečt.
I am going to run.
Grem plavat.
I am going to swim.
Prišel sem pomagat.
I came to help.
Grem v trgovino kupit kruh.
I am going to the store to buy bread.
Poslal sem ga iskat ključe.
I sent him to look for the keys.
Gremo plesat?
Are we going to dance?
Peljal sem ga v mesto gledat film.
I drove him to the city to watch a movie.
Moram it' v banko dvignit denar.
I have to go to the bank to withdraw money.
Prišli smo vas povabit na večerjo.
We came to invite you to dinner.
Grem v knjižnico vrnit knjige.
I am going to the library to return books.
Poslal sem jo v pisarno podpisat pogodbo.
I sent her to the office to sign the contract.
Grem na pošto oddat paket.
I am going to the post office to send a package.
Prišel je v Slovenijo študirat medicino.
He came to Slovenia to study medicine.
Greš z mano v trgovino izbrat darilo?
Are you going with me to the store to choose a gift?
Grem v klet iskat staro vino.
I am going to the cellar to look for old wine.
Prišli so v Ljubljano proslavit uspeh.
They came to Ljubljana to celebrate the success.
Grem v delavnico popravit kolo.
I am going to the workshop to fix the bike.
Poslal sem ga v arhiv preverit podatke.
I sent him to the archive to check the data.
Grem v gozd nabirat gobe.
I am going to the forest to pick mushrooms.
Prišel je v prestolnico uredit zadeve.
He came to the capital to settle matters.
Grem v kuhinjo pripravit večerjo.
I am going to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Poslal sem ga v tujino raziskat trg.
I sent him abroad to research the market.
Leicht verwechselbar
Both end in similar sounds.
Häufige Fehler
Hočem spat.
Hočem spati.
Grem delati.
Grem delat.
Prišel sem za delati.
Prišel sem delat.
Grem v trgovino za kupiti kruh.
Grem v trgovino kupit kruh.
Satzmuster
Grem ___ ___.
Real World Usage
Grem spat, laku noč.
The Motion Test
Smart Tips
Expect a supine.
Aussprache
Supine ending
The final -t is crisp and short.
Statement
Grem delat. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Supine is for the 'Trip' — if you are on a trip, use the supine!
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a person walking with a backpack. Every step they take, they are 'going to' do something. The backpack is the 'Supine' bag.
Rhyme
When you move your feet, use the supine to complete.
Story
Marko is going to the store. He is walking (motion). He wants to buy milk (purpose). Because he is walking, he says 'Grem kupit mleko'. If he were just sitting at home wanting milk, he would say 'Hočem kupiti mleko'.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write 3 sentences about where you are going today and why, using the supine.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Using the supine is a sign of a fluent speaker. It makes your speech sound less 'textbook'.
The supine is a Proto-Slavic remnant.
Gesprächseinstiege
Kam greš danes?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
Grem ___ (delati).
Score: /1
Ubungsaufgaben
1 exercisesGrem ___ (delati).
Score: /1
FAQ (1)
No, 'hočem' is not a motion verb.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Infinitive
Russian uses the infinitive after motion verbs.
zu + Infinitive
German requires a prepositional structure.
to + Verb
English has no specific motion-purpose form.
a + Infinitive
Spanish uses the infinitive after 'a'.
Stem + ni iku
Japanese uses the stem, Slovenian uses the supine.
li + Masdar/Infinitive
Arabic relies on particles.
