Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the particle 'bi' to express hypothetical actions, wishes, or polite requests in Slovenian.
- Place 'bi' after the subject or before the verb: 'Jaz bi jedel' (I would eat).
- Use the past participle (l-participle) of the verb: 'Jaz bi šel' (I would go).
- For negatives, add 'ne' before the particle: 'Ne bi šel' (I would not go).
Meanings
The particle 'bi' is used to form the conditional mood, expressing hypothetical, desired, or polite actions.
Hypothetical
Actions dependent on a condition.
“Če bi imel čas, bi prišel.”
“Kupil bi avto, če bi imel denar.”
Politeness
Softening a request or desire.
“Bi mi lahko pomagali?”
“Želel bi naročiti kavo.”
Conditional Formation
| Person | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Jaz | bi delal/a | ne bi delal/a |
| Ti | bi delal/a | ne bi delal/a |
| On/Ona | bi delal/a | ne bi delal/a |
| Midva | bi delala | ne bi delala |
| Vidva | bi delala | ne bi delala |
| Onadva | bi delala | ne bi delala |
| Mi | bi delali | ne bi delali |
| Vi | bi delali | ne bi delali |
| Oni | bi delali | ne bi delali |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + bi + l-participle | Jaz bi šel. |
| Negative | Subject + ne bi + l-participle | Jaz ne bi šel. |
| Question | Bi + Subject + l-participle? | Bi šel? |
| Polite Request | Želel bi + infinitive | Želel bi naročiti. |
| Hypothetical | Če + bi + l-participle, bi + l-participle | Če bi imel, bi dal. |
| Past Hypothetical | Če bi bil + l-participle, bi bil + l-participle | Če bi bil imel, bi bil dal. |
フォーマル度スペクトル
Želel bi kavo. (Ordering in a cafe)
Rad bi kavo. (Ordering in a cafe)
Bi kavo. (Ordering in a cafe)
Kavo, bi? (Ordering in a cafe)
The 'Bi' Universe
Usage
- Politeness Requests
- Hypothesis If-clauses
- Desire Wishes
Examples by Level
Bi kavo?
Would you like coffee?
Jaz bi vodo.
I would like water.
Bi šel?
Would you go?
Ne bi jedel.
I would not eat.
Če bi imel čas, bi prišel.
If I had time, I would come.
Bi mi pomagali?
Would you help me?
Ona bi plesala.
She would dance.
Mi bi šli domov.
We would go home.
Kupil bi avto, če bi bil cenejši.
I would buy a car if it were cheaper.
Želel bi vas vprašati nekaj.
I would like to ask you something.
Ne bi bilo pošteno.
It would not be fair.
Bi raje ostali tukaj?
Would you rather stay here?
Če bi bil vedel, bi prišel prej.
If I had known, I would have come earlier.
Bi se lahko dogovorili za sestanek?
Could we arrange a meeting?
Nihče ne bi verjel.
No one would believe.
Bi bilo mogoče?
Would it be possible?
Ko bi le vedel, kaj se je zgodilo.
If only I knew what happened.
Bi bilo smiselno razmisliti o tem.
It would make sense to think about this.
Ne bi si upal tega reči.
I wouldn't dare say that.
Bi se vi odločili enako?
Would you have decided the same?
Če bi bila situacija drugačna, bi ravnal drugače.
If the situation were different, I would act differently.
Bi se dalo to urediti drugače?
Could this be arranged differently?
Ne bi bilo odveč, če bi vprašali.
It wouldn't be redundant to ask.
Bi se sploh kdo odzval?
Would anyone even respond?
Easily Confused
Bom vs Bi.
よくある間違い
Jaz biem
Jaz bi
Če bi imam
Če bi imel
Bi šla (if male)
Bi šel
Bi bil šel (when simple conditional is needed)
Bi šel
Sentence Patterns
Če bi ___, bi ___.
Real World Usage
Bi šla na kavo?
Želel bi pico.
Bi lahko povedali več?
Bi mi pomagali?
Kdo bi šel z mano?
Bi bilo mogoče?
Gender Matters
Don't Conjugate
Politeness
Social Norms
Smart Tips
Use 'Želel bi' instead of 'Hočem'.
Use 'bi' for hypothetical plans.
Use 'Bi mi lahko' for requests.
Use 'Ko bi le'.
発音
Bi
Pronounced like 'bee'.
Rising
Bi šli? ↑
Polite question
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Bi is the key to 'would-be' dreams.
Visual Association
Imagine a 'Bee' (Bi) buzzing around a flower. If the bee lands, the flower blooms (the condition is met).
Rhyme
When you want to say 'would', use 'bi' as you should.
Story
I am sitting in a cafe. I see a menu. I think, 'I would (bi) eat cake.' I ask the waiter, 'Bi lahko dobil torto?' (Could I get cake?). The waiter smiles and brings it.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Write 5 sentences about what you would do if you were in Ljubljana right now.
文化メモ
Slovenians value politeness. Using 'bi' is the standard way to avoid sounding rude.
Derived from the old Slavic conditional forms.
Conversation Starters
Kaj bi naredil, če bi zadel na loteriji?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Jaz ___ šel.
Ona ___ delala.
Find and fix the mistake:
Jaz biem šel.
Bi šel.
A: Bi kavo? B: ___.
bi / šel / jaz
Which is conditional?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
練習問題
8 exercisesJaz ___ šel.
Ona ___ delala.
Find and fix the mistake:
Jaz biem šel.
Bi šel.
A: Bi kavo? B: ___.
bi / šel / jaz
Which is conditional?
Bi / Bom
Score: /8
よくある質問 (8)
No, 'bi' is always the same.
Yes, with 'bi bil'.
It is neutral but used for polite requests.
It sounds unnatural.
Yes, almost exactly.
Yes, it is the standard 'if' structure.
Yes, very often.
Add 'ne' before 'bi'.
In Other Languages
würde
German conjugates the auxiliary.
conditionnel
Slovenian uses a particle.
condicional
Slovenian is analytic.
tara
Slovenian is word-based.
law
Arabic is strictly particle-based.
hui
Slovenian uses a specific particle.