A1 Verb Conjugation 1 min read Facile

Conjugation Group 3: Verbs ending in -ovati, -ivati (e.g., kupovati)

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Drop the -ati, add -ujem! These verbs change their stem to -uj- in the present tense.

  • Remove the -ati ending from the infinitive: kupovati -> kupov-
  • Replace the stem ending with -uj- before adding endings: kupov + uj + em = kupujem
  • The -ujem suffix applies to all persons except the 3rd person plural (-uju).
Infinitive (-ovati) ➔ Stem + 'uj' + Personal Ending

Conjugation of 'Kupovati' (to buy)

Person Pronoun Ending Verb Form
1st Sing
Ja
-ujem
kupujem
2nd Sing
Ti
-uješ
kupuješ
3rd Sing
On/Ona
-uje
kupuje
1st Plur
Mi
-ujemo
kupujemo
2nd Plur
Vi
-ujete
kupujete
3rd Plur
Oni
-uju
kupuju

Meanings

These verbs represent a large, productive class of Croatian verbs that undergo a stem change in the present tense.

1

Standard Present Tense

Describing current actions or habits.

“Ja putujem u Zagreb.”

“On daruje cvijeće.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Conjugation Group 3: Verbs ending in -ovati, -ivati (e.g., kupovati)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb
Ja kupujem.
Negative
Ne + Verb
Ne kupujem.
Question
Verb + li + Subject
Kupujem li?
3rd Person Plural
Stem + uju
Oni kupuju.
Infinitive
Root + ovati
Kupovati.
Present Stem
Root + uj
Kupuj-

Spectre de formalité

Formel
Kupujem kartu.

Kupujem kartu. (Travel)

Neutre
Kupujem kartu.

Kupujem kartu. (Travel)

Informel
Kupujem kartu.

Kupujem kartu. (Travel)

Argot
Uzimam kartu.

Uzimam kartu. (Travel)

The -ovati Verb Transformation

Infinitive

Step 1

  • Kupov- Remove -ati

Step 2

  • -uj- Add infix

Step 3

  • -em/-eš... Add endings
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Exemples par niveau

1

Ja kupujem kruh.

I am buying bread.

2

On putuje u Split.

He is traveling to Split.

3

Mi darujemo poklon.

We are gifting a present.

4

Vi kupujete vodu.

You are buying water.

1

Ne kupujem danas.

I am not buying today.

2

Putuju li oni u Italiju?

Are they traveling to Italy?

3

Ona često daruje cvijeće.

She often gifts flowers.

4

Kupujemo li mi kartu?

Are we buying a ticket?

1

Oni ne putuju često zbog posla.

They don't travel often because of work.

2

Kupujem namirnice za cijeli tjedan.

I am buying groceries for the whole week.

3

Daruješ li mu nešto posebno?

Are you gifting him something special?

4

Putujemo vlakom kroz cijelu zemlju.

We are traveling by train through the whole country.

1

Instaliram novi softver na računalo.

I am installing new software on the computer.

2

Oni formatiraju disk prije prodaje.

They are formatting the disk before the sale.

3

Ne kupujem tu priču.

I don't buy that story (I don't believe it).

4

Putuješ li često poslovno?

Do you travel often for business?

1

Oni ne kupuju argumente oporbe.

They are not buying the opposition's arguments.

2

Putujemo kroz vrijeme u ovoj knjizi.

We are traveling through time in this book.

3

Daruješ li svoje vrijeme volontiranju?

Do you gift your time to volunteering?

4

Formatiramo dokumente prema standardima.

We are formatting documents according to standards.

1

Oni ne kupuju tu ideologiju.

They do not buy into that ideology.

2

Putujemo kroz povijest naše regije.

We are traveling through the history of our region.

3

Daruješ li sebe drugima?

Do you give of yourself to others?

4

Instaliraju se novi sustavi zaštite.

New security systems are being installed.

Facile à confondre

Conjugation Group 3: Verbs ending in -ovati, -ivati (e.g., kupovati) vs Regular -ati verbs

Learners think all -ati verbs use the -uj- infix.

Conjugation Group 3: Verbs ending in -ovati, -ivati (e.g., kupovati) vs Perfective vs Imperfective

Learners use -ovati verbs for one-time actions.

Conjugation Group 3: Verbs ending in -ovati, -ivati (e.g., kupovati) vs 3rd Person Plural

Learners add -uju to everything.

Erreurs courantes

✗

Kupovam

✓

Kupujem

Forgot the -uj- infix.
✗

Putovam

✓

Putujem

Incorrect stem modification.
✗

Kupujeju

✓

Kupuju

Over-conjugating the 3rd person plural.
✗

Darovam

✓

Darujem

Incorrect stem modification.
✗

Ne kupovam

✓

Ne kupujem

Negation doesn't change the stem rule.
✗

Putuju

✓

Putuju

Correct, but ensure stem is right.
✗

Kupujemo

✓

Kupujemo

Missing the 'e' in the ending.
✗

Instaliram

✓

Instaliram

Wait, some -irati verbs are different, but -ovati are consistent.
✗

Formatiram

✓

Formatiram

Consistency check.
✗

Darujem

✓

Darujem

Correct.

Structures de phrases

Ja ___ (kupovati) kruh.

Oni ___ (putovati) u Split.

Mi ___ (darovati) cvijeće.

Vi ___ (instalirati) program.

Real World Usage

Grocery store constant

Kupujem mlijeko.

Travel agency very common

Putujem u Pariz.

Social media common

Putujem! #travel

Tech support occasional

Instaliram drivere.

Gift shop common

Darujem ovo mami.

Texting very common

Kupujem kruh, treba li ti?

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💡

The -uj- Rule

Always look for the -uj- sound in the present tense of these verbs.
⚠️

Don't over-conjugate

The 3rd person plural is -uju, not -ujeju.
🎯

Loanwords

Most modern loanwords ending in -irati follow this pattern.
💬

Social usage

Use 'darovati' for formal gifts, 'pokloniti' for friends.

Smart Tips

Always write the -uj- infix first.

Kupov-em → Kup-uj-em

Assume it follows the -ovati pattern.

Instaliram (guessing) → Instaliram (applying rule)

Don't worry about the 'j' sound, just focus on the 'uj' syllable.

Kupujem (hesitant) → Kupujem (confident)

Ensure the 3rd person plural is correct.

Oni kupujeju → Oni kupuju

Prononciation

kuh-POO-yem

The 'j' sound

The 'j' in -ujem is pronounced like the 'y' in 'yes'.

Statement

Ja kupujem. ↘

Falling intonation for facts.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Kup-OVATI? Just say 'Kup-UJEM' to stay in the game!

Association visuelle

Imagine a shopping cart (kupovati) that suddenly sprouts a 'UJ' engine (the infix) to speed up the conjugation.

Rhyme

When you see -ovati, don't be blue, just add -ujem and you'll get through!

Story

Marko wants to buy (kupovati) a gift. He goes to the store. He doesn't say 'kupovam', he remembers the magic 'uj' engine. He says 'Ja kupujem' and the clerk smiles.

Word Web

KupovatiPutovatiDarovatiInstaliratiFormatiratiKupujemPutujem

Défi

Write 3 sentences about what you are buying today using the -ujem form.

Notes culturelles

Shopping is a social activity. Using 'kupovati' correctly helps in local markets.

In some dialects, the 'j' might be softened.

Standard conjugation is preferred in formal settings.

These verbs evolved from Proto-Slavic suffixes.

Amorces de conversation

“

Što kupuješ u trgovini?

“

Kamo putuješ ove godine?

“

Daruješ li često poklone?

“

Instaliraš li nove aplikacije?

Sujets d'écriture

Napiši što kupuješ za večeru.
Opiši svoje putovanje iz snova.
Kome daruješ svoje vrijeme?
Kako instaliraš nove navike?

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form of 'kupovati'.

Ja ___ kruh.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kupujem
The correct form is kupujem.
Which is correct? Choix multiple

Oni ___ u Zagreb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: putuju
The 3rd person plural is putuju.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ti darovam cvijeće.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: daruješ
The 2nd person singular is daruješ.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Ja kupujem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne kupujem
Add 'ne' before the verb.
Match the verb to its form. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kupujem
1st person singular.
Conjugate for 'Mi'. Conjugation Drill

Putovati -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: putujemo
Correct conjugation.
Order the words. Sentence Building

kruh / kupujem / Ja

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ja kupujem kruh
Subject-Verb-Object.
Is this true? True False Rule

All -ati verbs use -uj-.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Only -ovati/-ivati verbs do.

Score: /8

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form of 'kupovati'.

Ja ___ kruh.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kupujem
The correct form is kupujem.
Which is correct? Choix multiple

Oni ___ u Zagreb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: putuju
The 3rd person plural is putuju.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ti darovam cvijeće.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: daruješ
The 2nd person singular is daruješ.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Ja kupujem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne kupujem
Add 'ne' before the verb.
Match the verb to its form. Match Pairs

Kupovati -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kupujem
1st person singular.
Conjugate for 'Mi'. Conjugation Drill

Putovati -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: putujemo
Correct conjugation.
Order the words. Sentence Building

kruh / kupujem / Ja

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ja kupujem kruh
Subject-Verb-Object.
Is this true? True False Rule

All -ati verbs use -uj-.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Only -ovati/-ivati verbs do.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

It's part of the infix -uj- that characterizes this group.

Yes, it is a very consistent group.

Most -irati verbs also follow this pattern.

It is neutral and used in all registers.

Yes, but the past tense uses different rules.

Use 'Ne kupujem'.

No, that is a common error.

Very few, this is a highly regular group.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

German low

kaufen

German does not use an infix like -uj-.

French low

acheter

French changes vowels, not infixes.

Spanish low

comprar

Spanish conjugation is based on -ar/-er/-ir endings.

Japanese none

kau

Japanese does not conjugate for person.

Arabic low

yashtari

Arabic roots are usually triconsonantal.

Chinese none

mǎi

Chinese has no verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Conjugation Group 2: Verbs ending in -iti, -jeti (e.g., raditi)
Next
Irregular Present Tense Verbs (e.g., ići, htjeti)

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Conjugation Group 1: Verbs ending in -ati (e.g., čitati)
A1

Full Conjugation of 'Biti' (To Be)
A1

Present Tense Endings: -am, -em, -jem
A1

Conjugation Group 2: Verbs ending in -iti, -jeti (e.g., raditi)
A1

Irregular Present Tense Verbs (e.g., ići, htjeti)
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