Anyone who has ever attempted to learn Serbian has likely encountered something that felt confusing or challenging to master. However, verb tenses don’t have to be one of those things — if you know a few simple tricks and understand the basic rules, learning them can be easy and even fun.
Stick with us to the end of this article, and you will learn how to use the present tense in Serbian quickly, clearly, and with confidence. Let’s go!
The Infinitive: The Base Form of the Verb
Before we get to the present tense, we need to understand the infinitive — the “dictionary” form of the verb. In Serbian, the infinitive is the non-personal verb form, meaning it remains unchanged for person, gender, or number. You can think of it as the “name” of the verb.
For example:
- Ja crtam → infinitive: crtati (to draw)
- Ja pišem → pisati (to write)
- Ja maštam → maštati (to dream)
You can recognize an infinitive by asking yourself: “What to do?” – Šta raditi?
Once you understand the infinitive, you are ready to move on to conjugation – changing the verb for person, gender, and number — and to start learning Serbian tenses.
Present Tense in Serbian (Prezent)
In Serbian, the tense we use to describe an action happening now is called prezent — the present tense.
However, wait — it’s not always used only for actions happening right now! Let’s explain.
Imagine you are on a bus with someone, and you ask in Serbian:
„Da li silazite sada?“ (Are you getting off now?)
And they say: „Da, silazim na sledećoj stanici.“ (Yes, I’m getting off at the next stop.)
Even though the verb silazim is in the present tense, the action has not happened yet — it will happen soon, in the near future. Confusing? Maybe a little. However, here is the key:
It’s the verb endings that tell you you’re using the present tense.
Let’s take the verb silaziti (to get off) and conjugate it in the present tense:
Singular:
- Ja silazim
- Ti silaziš
- On/Ona/Ono silazi
Plural:
- Mi silazimo
- Vi silazite
- Oni silaze
Present Tense Endings
Each tense in Serbian has its own set of endings, which help you recognize and form the correct tense.
In the singular:
- -m
- -š
- (no ending)
In the plural:
- -mo
- -te
- -e / -ju / -u (depending on the verb group)
Let’s look at a few examples.
Glagol: pevati (to sing)
- Ja pevam
- Ti pevaš
- On/Ona peva
- Mi pevamo
- Vi pevate
- Oni pevaju
Glagol: skakati (to jump)
- Ja skačem
- Ti skačeš
- On/Ona skače
- Mi skačemo
- Vi skačete
- Oni skaču
A Great Trick to Recognize the Prezent
If you want to be 100% sure a verb is in the present tense, here’s a great trick:
Use the phrase “treba da” + verb.
For example:
- Treba da radim (I need to work)
- Treba da učim (I need to study)
- Treba da trčim (I need to run)
- Treba da vozim (I need to drive)
This helps your brain lock in the correct present-tense form of the verb, and it works every time!
How to Learn the Present Tense Quickly and Easily
The best way to learn the present tense is to:
- Use the “treba da” trick
- Memorize the personal endings
- Practice with common verbs like učiti (to learn), pisati (to write), živeti (to live), voleti (to love), ići (to go)…
Start by writing out the endings on paper and keep that note somewhere close while you study. At first, you’ll need to look at it often — and that’s perfectly okay. Your brain loves visual support!
Each day, pick a few verbs and practice them out loud. Begin with “ja” (I) and go through all the forms. Regular practice is the only way to build true confidence.
Enjoy the beauty of the Serbian language, and remember — if things don’t go as smoothly as you hoped, you can always count on the Serbology team to help you master Serbian in a fast, fun, and personalized way.
