One Serbian verb watches an action unfold; its aspectual partner turns toward the moment when the result is complete.

In today's lesson we will learn the following verbs

Perfective Aspect = Svršeni glagolski vid 


1. šutnuti = to kick
2. skočiti = to jump
3. potrčati / trčati = to run
4. povući = to pull
5. otvoriti = to open
6. gurnuti = to push
7. zatvoriti = to close
8. uhvatiti = to catch

Imperfective Aspect = Nesvršeni glagolski vid 


1. šutirati = to be kicking
2. skakati = to be jumping
3. trčati = to be running
4. povlačiti / vući = to be pulling
5. otvArati= to be opening
6. zatvAriti = to be closing
7. zatvArati= to be closing
8. hvatA = to be catching

We'll use them in the past tense.

Prošlo vreme, perfektni oblik = Past Simple Tense 


He kickED the ball - on je šutnuo loptu
he jumpED - on je skočio
he ran - on je potrčao
he pullED the box - on je povukao kutiju
he openED the door - on je otvorio vrata
he pushED the box - on je gurnuo kutiju
he closeD the door - on je zatvorio vrata
he caught the ball - on je uhvatio loptu

Click here for the full version.

As you can see each aspect has a different or slightly different form. That's why I am making the short videos with conjugations so you can hear and see the conjugations clearly. Let's focus on the fun task in front of us today, and in the following days you can expect me to focus more on the conjugations of the each verbs with fun exercises. Looking forward to getting your vocaroo.com stories in both aspects :)

Language focus: process versus completion

Verb aspect presents an action as ongoing or repeated, or as a bounded whole with a result. Learn imperfective and perfective partners inside a situation, because an English translation alone rarely reveals which member is natural. In this particular lesson, use that principle to interpret the examples connected with Perfective and Imperfective Aspect in Serbian.

Aspect pairs to work from

Latin scriptCyrillic scriptEnglish
Gledam seriju, ali nisam odgledala poslednju epizodu.Гледам серију, али нисам одгледала последњу епизоду.I am watching the series, but I have not finished the last episode.
Otvarala je prozor dok ga nije otvorila.Отварала је прозор док га није отворила.She kept trying the window until she opened it.
Razgovarali smo i dogovorili novi termin.Разговарали смо и договорили нови термин.We talked and agreed on a new time.
Svaki dan čitam, a juče sam pročitala knjigu.Сваки дан читам, а јуче сам прочитала књигу.I read every day, and yesterday I finished the book.
Pisao je poruku i konačno ju je napisao.Писао је поруку и коначно ју је написао.He was writing the message and finally completed it.

Use the script pair as a reading workout: Latin first, Cyrillic second, then reverse the order. The Serbian message does not change, and neither should the pronunciation. Apply that script strategy to the vocabulary in Perfective and Imperfective Aspect in Serbian.

One verb, two views of the same action

Instead of memorising disconnected words from Perfective and Imperfective Aspect in Serbian, collect a compact pattern you can reuse. Keep the stable part, replace one meaningful detail and listen to how the Serbian ending changes.

Describe a habit and a finished job

Select the sentence closest to your life and make it true for you. Add a reason or time expression, ask another person a related question, and answer it without reading. For this post, keep your final version connected with the situation in Perfective and Imperfective Aspect in Serbian.

Check your Serbian: Perfective and Imperfective Aspect in Serbian

Complete this final recall check without copying the table. Write both Serbian scripts, then compare your forms carefully with the solutions. Keep every answer connected with Perfective and Imperfective Aspect in Serbian.

  1. I am watching the series, but I have not finished the last episode.
  2. She kept trying the window until she opened it.
  3. We talked and agreed on a new time.
  4. I read every day, and yesterday I finished the book.
  5. He was writing the message and finally completed it.

Answers for the aspect exercise

  1. Gledam seriju, ali nisam odgledala poslednju epizodu.
    Гледам серију, али нисам одгледала последњу епизоду.
  2. Otvarala je prozor dok ga nije otvorila.
    Отварала је прозор док га није отворила.
  3. Razgovarali smo i dogovorili novi termin.
    Разговарали смо и договорили нови термин.
  4. Svaki dan čitam, a juče sam pročitala knjigu.
    Сваки дан читам, а јуче сам прочитала књигу.
  5. Pisao je poruku i konačno ju je napisao.
    Писао је поруку и коначно ју је написао.