When using the verb "uzeti" (to take) in Croatian, it's important to pay attention to the direct object, as it will be in the accusative case. For example, if you're taking a book, you would say "Uzeti knjigu" (To take a book).
The verb "uzeti" can also be used in various idiomatic expressions, so it's good to learn these as you progress. Additionally, remember that Croatian verbs are often perfective or imperfective. "Uzeti" is a perfective verb, meaning it refers to a completed action. Its imperfective counterpart is "uzimati".
You'll often hear "uzeti" in everyday situations, from ordering food to discussing plans.
§ Understanding 'uzeti'
When you're learning Croatian, you'll find that 'uzeti' is a very useful verb. It means 'to take' and can be used in many different situations, just like in English. It's an A1 level verb, so it's one of the first you should learn. However, like many verbs, it has some nuances and can be confused with other similar verbs.
§ Basic use of 'uzeti'
The most straightforward use of 'uzeti' is when you physically take something. Think of picking something up or grabbing it.
Ja ću uzeti
- Translation hint
- I will take an apple.
Možeš li uzeti
- Translation hint
- Can you take the book?
§ 'Uzeti' for consuming or acquiring
You can also use 'uzeti' when you are taking something to eat, drink, or when you acquire something like a taxi or a break.
Hoćeš li uzeti
- Translation hint
- Will you take coffee? (i.e., 'Would you like coffee?')
Moram uzeti
- Translation hint
- I need to take a taxi.
Idemo uzeti
- Translation hint
- Let's take a break.
§ When to use 'uzeti' vs. 'nositi' (to carry)
A common point of confusion for English speakers is when to use 'uzeti' and when to use 'nositi'. While both can relate to 'taking' or 'carrying', they have distinct meanings.
- Uzeti: This implies the action of *getting* something into your possession. It's about the initiation of the 'taking'.
- Nositi: This means *to carry* or *to wear*. It implies maintaining possession and transporting something, or having something on your body.
Molim te, uzminosi
- Translation hint
- Please take this bag and carry it.
§ 'Uzeti' vs. 'primiti' (to receive)
Another pair that can cause confusion is 'uzeti' and 'primiti'. While both involve something coming to you, the emphasis is different.
- Uzeti: You actively reach out and take something. The action originates from you.
- Primiti: You receive something, often passively. The action originates from someone else giving it to you.
Ja sam uzeo
- Translation hint
- I took the letter from the table.
Ja sam primio
- Translation hint
- I received the letter.
§ 'Uzeti' in expressions
Just like in English, 'uzeti' is part of many common Croatian expressions. Learning these will make your Croatian sound much more natural.
- Uzeti u obzir: To take into consideration.
- Uzeti odmor: To take a vacation/holiday.
- Uzeti lekciju: To take a lesson.
Moramo uzeti to u obzir.
- Translation hint
- We must take that into consideration.
By understanding these differences and practicing with examples, you'll master 'uzeti' and its related verbs in no time. Keep practicing!
How Formal Is It?
"Molim vas, uzmite ove dokumente. (Please, take these documents.)"
"Mogu li uzeti stolicu? (Can I take a chair?)"
"Ajde uzet' pivo iz frižidera. (Go take a beer from the fridge.)"
"Želiš li uzeti ovu igračku? (Do you want to take this toy?)"
"Maznuo sam si komad kolača. (I snagged a piece of cake for myself.)"
재미있는 사실
The 'u-' prefix in Proto-Slavic often indicates a completed action or direction, so 'uzeti' implies taking something fully or completely.
수준별 예문
Uzet ću kavu sa šećerom.
I will take coffee with sugar.
Future tense, perfective aspect.
Možeš li uzeti ovu knjigu sa stola?
Can you take this book from the table?
Present tense, imperfective aspect, request.
Uzeo sam kišobran jer pada kiša.
I took an umbrella because it's raining.
Past tense, perfective aspect.
Ako želiš, uzmi još jedan komad kolača.
If you want, take another piece of cake.
Imperative, perfective aspect.
Hoćete li uzeti taksi do kolodvora?
Will you take a taxi to the station?
Future tense, perfective aspect, formal plural.
Nisam htio uzeti tvoj novac.
I didn't want to take your money.
Past tense, imperfective aspect, infinitive.
Molim te, uzmi si vremena.
Please, take your time.
Imperative, perfective aspect, reflexive pronoun.
On uvijek uzima stvari zdravo za gotovo.
He always takes things for granted.
Present tense, imperfective aspect, idiomatic expression.
관용어 및 표현
"uzeti u obzir"
to take into consideration
Molim vas, uzmite u obzir moje mišljenje. (Please, take my opinion into consideration.)
neutral"uzeti zdravo za gotovo"
to take for granted
Ne bismo trebali uzeti naše prijateljstvo zdravo za gotovo. (We shouldn't take our friendship for granted.)
neutral"uzeti dah"
to take one's breath away
Pogled s planine mi je uzeo dah. (The view from the mountain took my breath away.)
neutral"uzeti k srcu"
to take to heart
Njegove riječi sam uzeo k srcu. (I took his words to heart.)
neutral"uzeti u ruke"
to take control, to take matters into one's own hands
Vrijeme je da uzmemo stvari u svoje ruke. (It's time to take matters into our own hands.)
neutral"uzeti si slobodno"
to take time off
Moram uzeti si slobodno od posla. (I need to take time off from work.)
neutral"uzeti maha"
to gain momentum, to spread (e.g., about a trend, disease)
Novi trend brzo uzima maha. (The new trend is quickly gaining momentum.)
neutral"uzeti na znanje"
to take note of
Uzeo sam na znanje vaše primjedbe. (I took note of your remarks.)
formal"uzeti noge pod rame"
to run away, to flee (literally: to take legs under arm)
Kad je vidio psa, uzeo je noge pod rame. (When he saw the dog, he ran away.)
informal"uzeti si nešto"
to help oneself to something
Slobodno si uzmi kolač. (Feel free to help yourself to a cake.)
neutral어원
Proto-Slavic
원래 의미: *jǫti (to take) + *u- (prefix)
Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, South Slavic문화적 맥락
When offering something to someone, it's common to say 'Uzmi!' (Take it!) in a friendly manner. The verb is also used in many idiomatic expressions, such as 'uzeti u obzir' (to take into consideration) or 'uzeti maha' (to gain momentum).
셀프 테스트 24 질문
Ja ću ___ knjigu.
The verb 'uzeti' (to take) is used here in its infinitive form after the auxiliary verb 'ću' (will), forming the future tense.
On želi ___ kavu.
After verbs like 'željeti' (to want), the second verb is typically in the infinitive form. So, 'uzeti' (to take) is correct.
Možeš li ___ moju torbu?
When asking if someone 'can' do something, the infinitive form of the verb is used after 'možeš li' (can you).
Molim te, ___ ovaj stolac.
This is an imperative sentence, telling someone to 'take' the chair. The imperative form for 'ti' (you singular informal) is 'uzmi'.
Mi ćemo ___ pauzu.
Similar to the first example, 'uzeti' is in the infinitive form for the future tense with 'ćemo' (we will).
Ja neću ___ tvoj novac.
In negative future tense, 'neću' (I will not) is followed by the infinitive form 'uzeti' (to take).
This sentence means 'I want to take the book.' The order is Subject-Verb-Verb-Object.
This question means 'Can you take water?' In Croatian questions, 'li' often follows the first verb.
This sentence means 'He needs to take an umbrella.' The structure is Subject-Verb-Verb-Object.
Molim te, možeš li ___ ove knjige natrag u knjižnicu?
U ovom kontekstu, 'odnijeti' (to take away/back) je prikladnije kada se nešto vraća na izvorno mjesto, kao što je knjižnica.
Kada putujemo, uvijek moramo ___ u obzir lokalne običaje i tradicije.
Izraz 'uzeti u obzir' (to take into consideration) je ustaljeni idiom koji znači razmotriti nešto.
Nakon teškog dana, jedva čekam da se opustim i ___ si malo vremena za sebe.
'Uzeti si vremena' (to take time for oneself) je uobičajen izraz koji znači odvojiti vrijeme za odmor ili osobne aktivnosti.
Ako želiš uspjeti u ovom projektu, moraš ___ sve rizike u obzir.
Ponovno, 'uzeti u obzir' je ispravan idiom za razmatranje nečega, u ovom slučaju rizika.
Bilo je važno ___ brze odluke kako bismo izbjegli daljnje probleme.
Kada govorimo o odlukama, glagol 'donijeti' (to make/bring a decision) se koristi umjesto 'uzeti'.
Uvijek je dobro ___ savjet od stručnjaka prije nego što se upustiš u nešto novo.
Izraz 'uzeti savjet' (to take advice) je ispravan način za reći da prihvaćate savjet od nekoga.
Nije mi jasno zašto su odlučili ___ rizik i investirati u tako nesiguran projekt. (It's not clear to me why they decided to ___ the risk and invest in such an insecure project.)
Here, 'uzeti' (to take) is used in its infinitive form following 'odlučili' (decided), meaning 'to take a risk.'
Nakon višesatnog pregovaranja, konačno su uspjeli ___ stvar u svoje ruke i donijeti odluku. (After hours of negotiation, they finally managed to ___ matters into their own hands and make a decision.)
The infinitive 'uzeti' is required after 'uspjeli' (managed) to express 'to take matters into their own hands.'
Unatoč upozorenjima, ___ je slobodu da izrazi svoje mišljenje, bez obzira na posljedice. (Despite warnings, he ___ the freedom to express his opinion, regardless of the consequences.)
The past tense form 'uzeo' (he took) is correct here, indicating a completed action in the past.
Moramo ___ u obzir sve faktore prije nego što donesemo konačnu presudu o projektu. (We must ___ into account all factors before making a final judgment on the project.)
The infinitive 'uzeti' is used with 'moramo' (we must) to form the phrase 'uzeti u obzir' (to take into account).
Ona je uvijek znala ___ od života ono najbolje, bez obzira na okolnosti. (She always knew how to ___ the best from life, regardless of the circumstances.)
Following 'znala' (she knew), the infinitive 'uzeti' is appropriate to convey 'to take the best from life.'
Nakon što je razmotrio sve opcije, ___ je tešku odluku da napusti posao. (After considering all options, he ___ the difficult decision to leave his job.)
The past tense form 'uzeo' (he took) correctly describes a completed action in the past.
/ 24 correct
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