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Lesson 08.Verb Aspect (Perfective vs. Imperfective)

Lesson Goals

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Understand the two aspects of Serbian verbs: imperfective and perfective
Recognize how aspect changes the meaning of tenses
Identify aspect pairs and learn common formation patterns
Use aspect correctly in the present, past, and future tenses

1. What is Verb Aspect?

Serbian verbs have two aspects:

Imperfective (nesvršeni vid) — focuses on the process, duration, or repetition of an action.
Perfective (svršeni vid) — focuses on the completion or result of an action.

2. Imperfective Aspect

Describes actions in progress, repeated, or habitual.
Can be used in all tenses.
Has a true present tense (used for actions happening now).

Examples:

Čitam knjigu. — I am reading a book.
Svako jutro pijem kafu. — I drink coffee every morning.
Juče sam radio ceo dan. — I was working all day yesterday.

3. Perfective Aspect

Describes actions that are completed or achieve a result.
Usually cannot be used in the present tense for ongoing actions — its “present” form refers to the future.

Examples:

Pročitaću knjigu sutra. — I will finish reading the book tomorrow.
Završio sam posao. — I finished the job.

4. Aspect Pairs

Most verbs come in pairs — one imperfective, one perfective.

They usually share the same root but differ by a prefix, suffix, or stem change.

Imperfective	Perfective	Meaning
pisati	napisati	to write
čitati	pročitati	to read
raditi	uraditi	to work / to do
jesti	pojesti	to eat
učiti	naučiti	to learn / to study

5. Common Ways to Form Perfective Verbs

Adding a prefix:

pisati → napisati
raditi → uraditi

Changing the stem:

učiti → naučiti

Using a different verb altogether:

govoriti → reći (to speak → to say/tell)

6. Choosing the Right Aspect in Sentences

If you want to emphasize the process or habit, use imperfective.
If you want to emphasize completion or result, use perfective.

Examples:

Učim srpski. — I am studying Serbian. (imperfective)
Naučiću srpski. — I will learn Serbian. (perfective)

7. Aspect and Tense Combination Rules

Tense	Imperfective	Perfective
Present	✅	❌ (present form = future meaning)
Past	✅ ongoing/repeated	✅ completed
Future I	✅ future ongoing/repeated	✅ completed in the future
Futur II	✅ process completed before another future action	✅ result completed before another future action
Conditional	✅ ongoing/repeated hypothetical	✅ completed hypothetical

8. Mini Dialogue (Grammar Focus)

Ana: Šta radiš?

(What are you doing?)

Marko: Čitam knjigu.

(I am reading a book.) — imperfective

Ana: Kada ćeš je pročitati?

(When will you finish reading it?) — perfective

Marko: Pročitaću je sutra.

(I will finish it tomorrow.) — perfective

9. Vocabulary for This Lesson

Imperfective	Perfective	English
čitati	pročitati	to read
pisati	napisati	to write
učiti	naučiti	to study / to learn
jesti	pojesti	to eat
raditi	uraditi	to work / to do
govoriti	reći	to speak / to say

10. Practice

A. Choose the correct aspect:

I (will write) a letter tomorrow. → pisati / napisati
They (were working) all day yesterday. → raditi / uraditi

B. Make sentences:

3. Use imperfective for a habit.

4. Use perfective for a completed past action.

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11. Answers