Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The verb 'být' is the foundation of Czech; memorize these six forms to describe who you are and where you are.
- Use 'jsem' for 'I am' (e.g., 'Jsem student').
- Use 'jsi' for 'you are' (singular) (e.g., 'Jsi doma?').
- Use 'je' for 'he/she/it is' (e.g., 'To je dobré').
Present Tense of Být
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
|
jsem
|
jsme
|
|
2nd
|
jsi
|
jste
|
|
3rd
|
je
|
jsou
|
Meanings
The verb 'být' functions as the primary copula in Czech, linking a subject to a state, identity, or location.
Identity
Defining who or what someone is.
“Jsem učitel.”
“On je lékař.”
Location
Describing where someone or something is.
“Jsem v Praze.”
“Kde jsi?”
State/Condition
Describing how someone feels or the state of an object.
“Jsem unavený.”
“Je to hezké.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + být
|
Jsem šťastný.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + nej- + být
|
Nejsem šťastný.
|
|
Question
|
být + Subject?
|
Jsi šťastný?
|
|
3rd Person
|
je/jsou
|
On je doma.
|
|
Formal
|
jste
|
Jste připraven?
|
|
Plural
|
jsme/jsou
|
Jsme tady.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
Nacházím se doma. (Location)
Jsem doma. (Location)
Jsem doma. (Location)
Jsem doma. (Location)
The Být Web
Identity
- Jsem I am
Location
- Jsme We are
State
- Je It is
Singular vs Plural
Negative Formation
Is it positive?
Usage Categories
Usage
- • Identity
- • Location
- • Condition
수준별 예문
Jsem student.
I am a student.
Jsi doma?
Are you at home?
To je dobré.
That is good.
Jsme v Praze.
We are in Prague.
Nejsem unavený.
I am not tired.
Kde jste vy?
Where are you (plural)?
Jsou to moji přátelé.
They are my friends.
Nejsme připraveni.
We are not ready.
Je možné, že přijdou pozdě.
It is possible that they will come late.
Byli byste tak laskaví?
Would you be so kind?
Nejsou to jen slova.
These are not just words.
Jsi si jistý?
Are you sure?
Je to otázka priorit.
It is a question of priorities.
Jsou-li splněny podmínky, můžeme začít.
If the conditions are met, we can start.
Nebyli jsme si vědomi rizik.
We were not aware of the risks.
To je přesně to, co jsem hledal.
That is exactly what I was looking for.
Je tomu tak, jak jsi říkal.
It is as you said.
Nejsou-li lidé spokojeni, odcházejí.
If people are not satisfied, they leave.
Být či nebýt, to je otázka.
To be or not to be, that is the question.
Jsou to úvahy nad rámec zadání.
These are considerations beyond the scope of the task.
Je to vskutku pozoruhodný jev.
It is indeed a remarkable phenomenon.
Nejsou-liž to pravdivá slova?
Are these not true words?
Budiž to bráno jako fakt.
Let it be taken as a fact.
Jsou-li tyto předpoklady správné, pak...
If these assumptions are correct, then...
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners mix up 'to be' and 'to have'.
Mixing singular and plural.
Mixing singular informal and plural/formal.
자주 하는 실수
Já jsem jsi
Jsi
On jsou
On je
Jsem doma
Jsem doma
Jsem unaven
Jsem unavený
Ne-jsem
Nejsem
Jsou vy
Vy jste
To je hezká
To je hezké
Byli jsme v Praze
Byli jsme v Praze
Je to zajímavý
Je to zajímavé
Jsou tam lidé
Jsou tam lidé
Být je důležité
Být je důležité
Nejsou-liž
Nejsou-liž
Je to pravda
Je to pravda
Jsou to oni
Jsou to oni
문장 패턴
Jsem ___.
Kde ___?
To ___ dobré.
My ___ v Praze.
Real World Usage
Jsem v Praze!
Jsem připraven na tuto roli.
Kde jsi?
Jsme v hotelu.
To je moje objednávka.
Je to vědecký fakt.
Drop the pronoun
Gender matters
Negative prefix
Formal 'jste'
Smart Tips
Drop the subject pronoun.
Always check the subject's gender before adding an adjective.
Use 'jste' for formal address.
Don't add 'ne' as a separate word.
발음
Jsem
Pronounced like 'ysem'.
Jsi
Pronounced like 'ysee'.
Question
Jsi doma? ↑
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
암기하기
기억법
Jsem, jsi, je; jsme, jste, jsou. Remember: 'J' starts them all, just change the end!
시각적 연상
Imagine a mirror. When you look at it, you say 'Jsem' (I am). When you point at a group, you say 'Jsou' (They are).
Rhyme
Jsem, jsi, je, to je hra, jsme, jste, jsou, už to jde!
Story
I look in the mirror and say 'Jsem' (I am). I point to my friend and say 'Jsi' (You are). We point to the house and say 'Je' (It is). We are all happy!
Word Web
챌린지
Write 6 sentences about yourself using each form of 'být' in 5 minutes.
문화 노트
Czechs often drop the pronoun 'já' or 'ty' to sound more natural.
Some dialects might use slightly different vowel lengths.
In formal settings, use 'jste' for both plural and singular respect.
The verb 'být' comes from Proto-Slavic *byti.
대화 시작하기
Kde jsi?
Jsi student?
Jsou tvoji přátelé v Praze?
Je to důležité?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
Já ___ student.
Oni ___ doma.
Find and fix the mistake:
Já jsi šťastný.
doma / jsi / ?
Být (2nd sing)
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Jsem doma.
Pane Nováku, ___ připraven?
Score: /8
연습 문제
8 exercisesJá ___ student.
Oni ___ doma.
Find and fix the mistake:
Já jsi šťastný.
doma / jsi / ?
Být (2nd sing)
My
Jsem doma.
Pane Nováku, ___ připraven?
Score: /8
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
No, you can drop them to sound more natural.
Add 'ne-' to the start of the verb.
It is for plural and formal singular.
Czech doesn't change the verb for gender in the 3rd person.
Být is 'to be', mít is 'to have'.
Yes, it is the standard way to say where someone is.
Yes, it is the most irregular verb in Czech.
Use the same word order but raise your voice at the end.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ser/estar
Czech does not have two separate verbs for 'to be'.
être
Czech conjugation is more synthetic.
sein
Czech verb endings are more distinct.
desu/iru/aru
Czech does not distinguish animate/inanimate for 'to be'.
kāna
Czech always requires the verb.
shì
Czech 'být' is more versatile.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Connected Grammar
Personal Pronouns
PrerequisiteYou need to know who you are talking about.
Present Tense of Mít
SimilarIt is the next most common verb.
Gender Agreement
Builds OnAdjectives must match the subject.
Past Tense of Být
Advanced FormIt is the next step in verb conjugation.
