Serbian verb aspect becomes easier when you stop looking for one universal rule and start observing families of related verbs. In this intermediate lesson, we compare imperfective and perfective verbs formed with prefixes, suffixes and stem changes. We will also see why a prefix may change not only the aspect, but the lexical meaning of a verb.

How Serbian verbs change aspect

Before we continue with video lessons focusing on aspectual differences, let us concentrate on the grammar today:

As you probably noticed in the previous post for the intermediate level, one can turn an imperfective verb into a perfective one by adding a prefix (buditi - probuditi ,  razbuditi ). But this is not the only way to change an aspect of a verb. You can also:

However, we have to be cautious with prefixation. A prefix often does more than mark the difference between a completed and an ongoing action, as in napisao sam (I wrote / I have written it) and pisao sam (I was writing / I wrote). It may add a new layer of meaning, as in the relationship between buditi, probuditi and razbuditi. English may therefore require a different verb or a longer expression to convey the additional meaning accurately.

Let me give you a few examples of:
  • a clear perfective–imperfective distinction without substantial additional meaning:
  1. pisati - napisati (to be writing - to have written/wrote)
  2. čitati - pročitati (to be reading - to have read/ read )
  • the prefix adding new meanings :
  1. igrati - odigrati / izigrati / zaigrati  (to be playing - to have played / to play up / to play upon* these translations are incomplete and need to be read in  the sentences, which will be the aim of our future lessons at this level )
  2. pisati -  prepisati (to copy) / zapisati (to jot down) / upisati (to enroll)
Until the next lesson, do practise the aspect in Serbian by doing some fun exercises published in the previous posts:
  1. Song "I'm leaving"
  2. Prefix "do-" in Serbian
  3. Exercise with the verb aspect in Serbian