Present Tense Endings: -am, -em, -jem
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Croatian verbs change their endings based on the infinitive stem to show who is doing the action.
- Verbs ending in -ati usually take -am (e.g., ja čitam).
- Verbs ending in -eti or -iti often take -im or -em (e.g., ja vidim).
- Verbs ending in -ovati often change to -ujem (e.g., ja kupujem).
Standard Present Tense Endings
| Person | -am group | -em group | -jem group |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ja
|
-am
|
-em
|
-jem
|
|
Ti
|
-aš
|
-eš
|
-ješ
|
|
On/Ona
|
-a
|
-e
|
-je
|
|
Mi
|
-amo
|
-emo
|
-jemo
|
|
Vi
|
-ate
|
-ete
|
-jete
|
|
Oni
|
-aju
|
-u
|
-ju
|
Meanings
The present tense in Croatian is used to describe actions happening now or habitual actions.
Present continuous
Action happening at this moment.
“Ja pišem pismo.”
“On jede jabuku.”
Habitual action
Actions that occur regularly.
“Svaki dan učim hrvatski.”
“Ona često putuje.”
General truth
Facts that are always true.
“Sunce sija.”
“Voda vrije na sto stupnjeva.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Stem + Ending
|
Ja čitam
|
|
Negative
|
Ne + Verb
|
Ne čitam
|
|
Question
|
Verb + li
|
Čitaš li?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Da/Ne + Verb
|
Da, čitam
|
|
Plural
|
Stem + Plural Ending
|
Mi čitamo
|
|
Formal
|
Vi + Plural Ending
|
Vi čitate
|
طیف رسمیت
Radim. (Work)
Ja radim. (Work)
Radim. (Work)
Šljakam. (Work)
Verb Conjugation Groups
Group 1
- -am ati verbs
Group 2
- -em eti/iti verbs
Group 3
- -jem ovati verbs
Conjugation Comparison
Conjugation Decision Tree
Does it end in -ovati?
Common Verbs
Daily
- • piti
- • jesti
- • raditi
Study
- • čitati
- • pisati
- • učiti
مثالها بر اساس سطح
Ja čitam knjigu.
I am reading a book.
Ti radiš danas.
You are working today.
On kupuje kruh.
He is buying bread.
Mi učimo hrvatski.
We are learning Croatian.
Ne razumijem ovo pitanje.
I don't understand this question.
Putuješ li u Split?
Are you traveling to Split?
Ona često pije kavu.
She often drinks coffee.
Oni ne znaju odgovor.
They don't know the answer.
Planiram posjetiti prijatelje.
I am planning to visit friends.
Često se družimo vikendom.
We often hang out on weekends.
Očekujem tvoj odgovor.
I am expecting your answer.
Razumijemo li se?
Do we understand each other?
Uvjeravam vas da je sve u redu.
I assure you that everything is fine.
Smatram da je to neprihvatljivo.
I consider that unacceptable.
Započinjem novi projekt.
I am starting a new project.
Zahtijevam objašnjenje.
I demand an explanation.
Preispitujem svoje odluke.
I am re-examining my decisions.
Uočavam suptilne razlike.
I am noticing subtle differences.
Izražavam svoje duboko žaljenje.
I am expressing my deep regret.
Nadopunjujem svoj rad.
I am supplementing my work.
Očitujem se o tom pitanju.
I am declaring my stance on that issue.
Razlučujem bitno od nebitnog.
I am distinguishing the essential from the non-essential.
Uobličujem svoje misli.
I am shaping my thoughts.
Preobražavam se u novu osobu.
I am transforming into a new person.
بهراحتی اشتباه گرفته میشود
Learners mix up the present tense of both.
Forgetting the 'se'.
Mixing verb endings with noun endings.
اشتباهات رایج
Ja čitamam
Ja čitam
Čitam ne
Ne čitam
On čitam
On čita
Mi čitam
Mi čitamo
Kupujem kruh
Kupujem kruh
Pijem kava
Pijem kavu
Radiš li
Radiš li?
Ja sam čitam
Ja čitam
Oni čita
Oni čitaju
Ja kupujem kruh danas
Ja danas kupujem kruh
Ja preispitam
Ja preispitujem
Oni uobliče
Oni uobličuju
Ja izražam
Ja izražavam
الگوهای جملهسازی
Ja ___ (verb) ___ (object).
___ (pronoun) ne ___ (verb).
___ (verb) li ___ (pronoun)?
Ja često ___ (verb).
Real World Usage
Što radiš?
Želim kavu.
Radim kao inženjer.
Putujem u Zagreb.
Učim hrvatski!
Očekujem odgovor.
Drop the pronoun
Check the group
Use flashcards
Listen to locals
Smart Tips
Identify the infinitive ending immediately.
Try to drop the pronoun.
Check for the 'ne' particle.
Listen for the ending, not the pronoun.
تلفظ
Stress
Stress is usually on the first syllable.
Vowel length
Vowels can be long or short.
Question
Čitaš li? ↑
Rising intonation at the end.
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Remember 'Am-Em-Jem' as 'A-M-J' (Always Make Joy) to keep the groups in order.
تداعی تصویری
Imagine a person reading (čitam) in a chair, writing (pišem) at a desk, and buying (kupujem) at a store. Each action has a specific ending attached to the person.
Rhyme
Ending in -am, I read with a slam. Ending in -em, I write with a gem.
Story
Ana loves to read (čita). She writes (piše) letters every day. She buys (kupuje) stamps at the post office. She is happy.
شبکه واژگان
چالش
Conjugate three verbs (one from each group) for all six persons in 5 minutes.
نکات فرهنگی
They often drop the final 'm' in speech.
Standard Croatian is used, but informal speech is very common.
They have a distinct melodic accent.
Croatian verb endings come from Proto-Slavic.
شروعکنندههای مکالمه
Što radiš?
Čitaš li knjige?
Putuješ li često?
Što misliš o tome?
موضوعات نگارش
اشتباهات رایج
Test Yourself
Ja ___.
On ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ja čitamam.
Ja radim.
A: Što radiš? B: ___.
kavu / pijem / Ja
Which is -jem?
Mi ___.
Score: /8
تمرینهای عملی
8 exercisesJa ___.
On ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ja čitamam.
Ja radim.
A: Što radiš? B: ___.
kavu / pijem / Ja
Which is -jem?
Mi ___.
Score: /8
سوالات متداول (8)
The verb ending already contains the information about the subject.
Look at the infinitive ending: -ati, -eti, -iti, -ovati.
Yes, like 'biti' (to be) or 'htjeti' (to want).
Sometimes, but usually for immediate future.
Yes, if you want to contrast with someone else.
People will understand, but it will sound incorrect.
English uses auxiliary verbs; Croatian uses suffixes.
Yes, it is the standard way to write.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Presente de indicativo
Croatian has three main groups, Spanish has three (-ar, -er, -ir).
Präsens
Croatian drops pronouns more often.
Présent
Croatian endings are distinct and audible.
Non-past tense
Croatian requires person agreement.
Mudari
Croatian uses only suffixes.
None
Croatian is highly inflected.
