Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The verb 'imati' means 'to have' and is essential for expressing possession in Croatian.
- Use 'imati' to show ownership: 'Imam auto' (I have a car).
- The negative form adds 'ne-' to the start: 'Nemam auto' (I don't have a car).
- Questions use the same form: 'Imaš li auto?' (Do you have a car?).
Conjugation of 'Imati'
| Pronoun | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
|
Ja
|
imam
|
nemam
|
|
Ti
|
imaš
|
nemaš
|
|
On/Ona/Ono
|
ima
|
nema
|
|
Mi
|
imamo
|
nemamo
|
|
Vi
|
imate
|
nemate
|
|
Oni/One/Ona
|
imaju
|
nemaju
|
Meanings
The verb 'imati' is the primary way to express possession or existence of an object or quality.
Physical Possession
Owning or holding an object.
“Imam olovku.”
“Imam novi telefon.”
Abstract Possession
Having an idea, time, or feeling.
“Imam vremena.”
“Imam ideju.”
Existence
Indicating that something exists in a specific context.
“Imamo puno posla.”
“Imamo goste.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + imati
|
Imam auto.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + nemati
|
Nemam auto.
|
|
Question
|
Imati + li + Subject
|
Imaš li auto?
|
|
Short Answer (Yes)
|
Imam
|
Imam.
|
|
Short Answer (No)
|
Nemam
|
Nemam.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
Imate li olovku? (Asking for a pen)
Imaš li olovku? (Asking for a pen)
Imaš olovku? (Asking for a pen)
Imaš kemu? (Asking for a pen)
The 'Imati' Web
Possession
- auto car
- kuća house
Abstract
- vrijeme time
- ideja idea
수준별 예문
Imam psa.
I have a dog.
Imam knjigu.
I have a book.
Imam vodu.
I have water.
Imam olovku.
I have a pen.
Nemam vremena.
I don't have time.
Imaš li brata?
Do you have a brother?
Imamo novi auto.
We have a new car.
Imate li kartu?
Do you have a ticket?
On ima puno posla.
He has a lot of work.
Nemaju sreće danas.
They don't have luck today.
Imamo li dovoljno novca?
Do we have enough money?
Ona ima pravo.
She is right.
Imati znanje je važno.
Having knowledge is important.
Nismo imali priliku.
We didn't have the opportunity.
Imali su veliku kuću.
They had a big house.
Imam osjećaj da će kišiti.
I have a feeling it will rain.
Imati na umu sve detalje.
To keep all details in mind.
Nije imao izbora.
He had no choice.
Imamo li ikakve šanse?
Do we have any chance at all?
Imati volje za rad.
To have the will to work.
Imati u vidu sve okolnosti.
To take all circumstances into account.
Nema se što dodati.
There is nothing to add.
Imati na raspolaganju resurse.
To have resources at one's disposal.
Imati prednost pred drugima.
To have an advantage over others.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners use 'biti' (to be) for possession.
Learners use 'posjedovati' in casual conversation.
Learners use 'imati' for existence.
자주 하는 실수
Ne imam
Nemam
Imam auto?
Imam li auto?
Imam brata.
Imam brata.
Imam 20 godina.
Imam 20 godina.
Oni imaju.
Oni imaju.
Imate li vi?
Imate li?
Nemam ništa.
Nemam ništa.
Imam pravo na to.
Imam pravo na to.
Imam puno posla.
Imam puno posla.
Imati volje.
Imati volje.
Imati u vidu.
Imati u vidu.
Imati na raspolaganju.
Imati na raspolaganju.
Nema se što reći.
Nema se što reći.
문장 패턴
Imam ___.
Nemam ___.
Imaš li ___?
Imamo ___ za ___.
Real World Usage
Imam novi post!
Imaš li vremena?
Imam iskustva u radu.
Imate li vegetarijansku opciju?
Imam kartu za vlak.
Imam kod za popust.
Negation
Don't use 'biti'
Idioms
Socializing
Smart Tips
Always use 'nemam' + Genitive case.
Put 'li' after the verb.
Use 'imati' + years.
Use 'imate' for 'Vi'.
발음
Stress
The stress is usually on the first syllable.
Question
Imaš li? ↗
Rising intonation at the end.
암기하기
기억법
Think of 'I'm at it' (Imati) when you have something in your hands.
시각적 연상
Imagine holding a giant 'I' in your hands. Every time you say 'Imam', you are grabbing that letter.
Rhyme
Imam, imaš, ima, to is the game, having things is never the same.
Story
Ana has a cat. She says 'Imam mačku'. Her friend doesn't have one, so she says 'Nemam mačku'. They both want to know if you have one: 'Imaš li mačku?'
Word Web
챌린지
Write 5 sentences about things you have in your room right now.
문화 노트
Asking 'Imaš li?' is very common when meeting new people to establish common ground.
From Proto-Slavic *imati.
대화 시작하기
Imaš li brata?
Imaš li vremena za kavu?
Imate li kakav savjet?
Imate li ikakve planove za vikend?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
Ja ___ auto.
Ja ___ auto.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ti ima auto.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
We have time.
Answer starts with: Ima...
Vi ___ (imati) knjigu.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
I / have / idea.
Score: /8
연습 문제
8 exercisesJa ___ auto.
Ja ___ auto.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ti ima auto.
li / auto / imaš / ?
We have time.
Vi ___ (imati) knjigu.
Match 'Oni' with the correct form.
I / have / idea.
Score: /8
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
No, it is a perfectly regular -ati verb.
Add 'ne' to the front, e.g., 'nemam'.
Yes, 'Imam 20 godina'.
Imati is casual, posjedovati is formal.
No, the verb ending shows the person.
Yes, with the 'li' particle.
Yes, like 'imati sreće'.
It's a historical contraction.
Scaffolded Practice
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2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Tener
Spanish uses 'tener' for age, Croatian uses 'imati'.
Avoir
French uses 'avoir' for age.
Haben
German uses 'haben' for age.
Motsu
Croatian uses 'imati' for both.
Inda
Croatian uses a direct verb.
You
Chinese does not conjugate for person.
