Modal and Governing Verbs

01

The Core Modals

• morati - must, to have to
• moći - can, to be able
• htjeti - to want, will
• trebati - to need, should
• smjeti - may, to be allowed

• Moram ići.

  I have to go.

• Mogu li pomoći?

  Can I help?

02

Modal Plus Infinitive

The modal carries the person and tense; the second verb stays in the infinitive and does not change.

• Želim naučiti bosanski.

  I want to learn Bosnian.

• Moramo kupiti hljeb.

  We have to buy bread.

• Ne smiješ pušiti ovdje.

  You may not smoke here.

03

The 'da + present' Alternative

When both verbs have the same subject, Bosnian has two equally correct options: the infinitive, or da ("that") plus the second verb in the present tense, conjugated for the same person. The da version is very common in everyday Bosnian.

• Želim učiti.

  I want to study.

• Želim da učim.

  I want to study. (same meaning)

• Moram da idem.

  I have to go.

• idem "I go" - after da both verbs carry the person

When the two verbs have different subjects, the infinitive is not available at all and da is the only way. This is where you will meet it most.

• Nadam se da ćete se oporaviti.

  I hope you will recover.

• Voljela bih da više štediš.

  I would like you to save more.

• English swaps to "you to save"; Bosnian opens a whole second clause with da and keeps its verb conjugated

04

'trebati': Need and Should

trebati has three patterns, and which one you use decides where the person goes.

• Conjugated for a person, with an object: "to need".

• Trebam odmor.

  I need a rest.

• Impersonal treba with an infinitive: "one should", with no person at all.

• Treba učiti.

  One should study.

• Impersonal treba with a dative: also "I need", but now the thing needed is the subject and the person is in the dative - the same frame as Hladno mi je..

• Treba mi voda.

  I need water.

• literally "water is needed to me" - so voda is nominative, not an object

05

'htjeti' Also Builds the Future

Besides meaning "to want", the clitic forms of htjeti (ću, ćeš, će) are the machinery of the future tense.

• Hoću kafu.

  I want a coffee.

• Sutra ću raditi.

  I will work tomorrow.

06

Modals in the Past

A modal takes tense like any verb. In the past it uses its own participle plus the biti auxiliary, while the second verb stays in the infinitive.

• Morao sam raditi.

  I had to work. (masculine)

• Morala sam raditi.

  I had to work. (feminine)

• Htjela je otići.

  She wanted to leave.

07

Polite Requests

The conditional of a modal softens it into a polite request - the everyday way to ask for things.

• Mogu li dobiti račun?

  Can I get the bill?

• Htio bih rezervisati stol.

  I would like to book a table.

08

Other Verbs That Take an Infinitive

Beyond the true modals, many ordinary verbs govern an infinitive too - voljeti (to like), znati (to know how), početi (to begin).

• Volim plivati.

  I like to swim.

• Znam kuhati.

  I know how to cook.

• Počinje kišiti.

  It is starting to rain.