VEŽBA:
A pair of trousers creates a practical obligation
After morati, moći and želeti, Serbian commonly uses da plus a present-tense verb: moram da kupim, mogu da nosim, želim da probam. Both verbs reflect the subject, so a change from ja to oni affects each relevant form.
Trebati behaves differently in many everyday constructions. Treba da kupim means “I should buy” or “I need to buy,” while moram da kupim expresses stronger necessity. Keep ability, advice, desire and obligation separate before choosing the modal.
Modal meaning comes before the shopping verb
| Latinica | Ћирилица | English |
|---|---|---|
| Moram da kupim toplije čizme pre snega. | Морам да купим топлије чизме пре снега. | I have to buy warmer boots before the snow. |
| Možeš da nosiš lanenu košulju na proslavi. | Можеш да носиш ланену кошуљу на прослави. | You can wear a linen shirt at the celebration. |
| Jelena želi da proba ljubičasti kaput. | Јелена жели да проба љубичасти капут. | Jelena wants to try on the purple coat. |
| Treba da zamenimo premale rukavice. | Треба да заменимо премале рукавице. | We should replace the gloves that are too small. |
| Deca ne mogu da pronađu svoje šalove. | Деца не могу да пронађу своје шалове. | The children cannot find their scarves. |
Dress the figures under different conditions
Give each person in the video one clothing problem. Solve the first with morati, the second with moći, the third with želeti and the fourth with treba da; do not repeat an item of clothing.
- Complete: Ja ______ da kupim jaknu. (must)
- Write Možeš da nosiš in Cyrillic.
- Which modal expresses ability?
- Translate treba da zamenimo.
- Change to oni: Ona mora da proba.
Necessity loosens into choice
- moram
- Можеш да носиш
- moći
- we should replace
- Oni moraju da probaju.
Retell one solution twice, first as advice and then as an unavoidable duty. Treba da and morati should make the difference audible.
Marina Petrović