Irregular Present Tense Verbs (e.g., ići, htjeti)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Some Croatian verbs don't follow the standard -am, -iš, -i rules; you must memorize the unique stems for 'ići' and 'htjeti'.
- The verb 'ići' (to go) changes its stem to 'ide-' in the present tense: 'ja idem'.
- The verb 'htjeti' (to want) has a short form 'hoću' and a long form 'želim' for specific contexts.
- Irregular verbs often change their root vowel or consonant entirely compared to the infinitive form.
Conjugation of 'ići' (to go)
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
|
1st (Ja/Mi)
|
idem
|
idemo
|
|
2nd (Ti/Vi)
|
ideš
|
idete
|
|
3rd (On/Oni)
|
ide
|
idu
|
Conjugation of 'htjeti' (to want)
| Person | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
|
1st (Ja)
|
hoću
|
neću
|
|
2nd (Ti)
|
hoćeš
|
nećeš
|
|
3rd (On)
|
hoće
|
neće
|
Meanings
Irregular verbs are those that do not follow the predictable conjugation patterns of the three main Croatian verb classes (-am, -im, -em). They require individual memorization of their present tense stems.
Movement (ići)
To move from one place to another.
“Ja idem kući.”
“Oni idu u kino.”
Desire (htjeti)
To want or wish for something.
“Ja hoću kavu.”
“Što hoćeš raditi?”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Verb
|
Ja idem
|
|
Negative
|
Ne + Verb
|
Ja ne idem
|
|
Question
|
Verb + li
|
Ideš li?
|
|
Wanting
|
Hoću + Verb
|
Hoću raditi
|
|
Refusal
|
Neću + Verb
|
Neću raditi
|
|
Future
|
Hoću + Infinitive
|
Hoću ići
|
正式程度
Želim ići. (Expressing desire.)
Hoću ići. (Expressing desire.)
Oću ić. (Expressing desire.)
Oću ić. (Expressing desire.)
Irregular Verb Map
Movement
- ići to go
Desire
- htjeti to want
按水平分级的例句
Ja idem u školu.
I am going to school.
Što hoćeš?
What do you want?
Mi idemo kući.
We are going home.
Oni ne idu tamo.
They are not going there.
Neću ići u kino.
I don't want to go to the cinema.
Ideš li s nama?
Are you going with us?
Ona hoće novu knjigu.
She wants a new book.
Vi idete prebrzo.
You are going too fast.
Htio bih znati više.
I would like to know more.
Idemo li sutra na izlet?
Are we going on a trip tomorrow?
Nećeš vjerovati što se dogodilo.
You won't believe what happened.
Oni idu u posjet prijateljima.
They are going to visit friends.
Nisam htio da se to dogodi.
I didn't want that to happen.
Kamo god ideš, ponesi kišobran.
Wherever you go, take an umbrella.
Hoćemo li se dogovoriti?
Shall we reach an agreement?
Neće biti lako, ali idemo dalje.
It won't be easy, but we are moving on.
Htijenje je prvi korak ka uspjehu.
Wanting is the first step toward success.
Ide mi se na more.
I feel like going to the seaside.
Ne htjedoše priznati pogrešku.
They did not want to admit the mistake.
Gdje god išli, budite oprezni.
Wherever you may go, be careful.
Ne htjedne li doći, mi ćemo krenuti.
Should he not want to come, we will leave.
Ideš li ili ne, odluka je tvoja.
Whether you go or not, the decision is yours.
Htijenjem se postiže nemoguće.
Through will, the impossible is achieved.
Idemo li u susret novim izazovima?
Are we going to meet new challenges?
容易混淆
Both mean 'to want', but 'htjeti' is more common and used for future tense.
Both can mean 'to walk', but 'ići' is for destination, 'hodati' is for the act of walking.
Learners think they are interchangeable.
常见错误
Ja ićam
Ja idem
Ne hoću
Neću
Oni idu
Oni idu
Ti iđeš
Ti ideš
Hoćemo ići
Hoćemo ići
Ne idem htjeti
Neću ići
Vi idete
Vi idete
Htio sam ići
Htio sam ići
Oni htjednu
Oni hoće
Idem u kino da gledam
Idem u kino gledati
Htijenje je htjeti
Htijenje je volja
Ne htjedoše
Nisu htjeli
Idem k tebi
Idem tebi
句型
Ja ___ u ___.
Ja ___ ___.
Neću ___ ___.
Ideš li ___ ___?
Real World Usage
Ideš di?
Hoću pizzu.
Želim napredovati.
Kamo ide ovaj vlak?
Idem na more!
Neću dostavu.
Memorize as blocks
Watch the negative
Use in context
Regional variations
Smart Tips
Always check the present tense stem first.
Use the contracted 'neću'.
Use 'idemo' for 'let's go'.
Use 'hoćeš li' for a direct question.
发音
Vowel length
The 'o' in 'hoću' is short.
Question
Ideš li? ↗
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
记住它
记忆技巧
I go with 'ići' (I-d-e-m), I want with 'hoću' (H-o-ć-u).
视觉联想
Imagine a person walking (ići) with a thought bubble showing a heart (htjeti/want).
Rhyme
Kad idem, ja se krećem, kad hoću, ja se neću.
Story
Marko wants (hoće) a coffee. He goes (ide) to the cafe. He doesn't want (neće) tea. He goes (ide) home.
Word Web
挑战
Write 5 sentences about your day using 'idem' and 'hoću' in 5 minutes.
文化笔记
In Dalmatia, the 'i' at the end of infinitive is often dropped.
Standard usage is common, but 'hoću' is often replaced by 'želim' in polite company.
Very similar to standard, but with a slightly slower cadence.
These verbs are of Proto-Slavic origin, where irregular stems were common due to high frequency.
对话开场白
Ideš li danas u grad?
Što hoćeš za ručak?
Kamo ideš na odmor?
Bi li htio promijeniti posao?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
Ja ___ u školu.
Ja ___ ići.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ti ićam u grad.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Mi ___.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Ideš li u kino? B: ___, ne idem.
hoću / kavu / piti
Score: /8
练习题
8 exercisesJa ___ u školu.
Ja ___ ići.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ti ićam u grad.
u / idem / školu / ja
Mi ___.
Match: Ja, Ti, Mi
A: Ideš li u kino? B: ___, ne idem.
hoću / kavu / piti
Score: /8
常见问题 (8)
They are high-frequency words that have evolved to be shorter over centuries.
Yes, 'želim' is more polite and formal.
Yes, the 'ne' and 'hoću' merged into one word.
If it doesn't fit the -am, -im, -em patterns, it's likely irregular.
It's a regional variation common in coastal areas.
Yes, you can say 'idem autom' (I go by car).
Trying to conjugate them like regular verbs.
Yes, like 'moći' (to be able to) and 'znati' (to know).
Scaffolded Practice
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2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
gehen / wollen
Croatian has more complex person-based conjugation.
aller / vouloir
French uses auxiliary verbs for future, while Croatian uses 'htjeti'.
ir / querer
Spanish 'querer' is used for both 'want' and 'love'.
iku / hoshii
Croatian conjugates for person; Japanese does not.
dhahaba / arada
Arabic is root-based; Croatian is suffix-based.
qù / xiǎng
Chinese verbs are invariant.