When the difference is signaled by adding a prefix, it is often the case that the addition of the prefix changes the meaning so much as to produce a new verb altogether. When this happens, an imperfective partner is created (via suffixation) for this new perfective verb. The system of motion verbs, surveyed in [54], gives a hint of this process; for detailed discussion, see [147c].
But there are also a number of verbs where the addition of a prefix adds no other meaning than the idea “perfective”. Such pairs are viewed as straightforward aspect pairs. It is important to note that most of these verbs are capable of hosting more than one prefix, and that all but one of these prefixes WILL create a verb with newly altered meaning (that is, will add additional meaning beyond just the idea “perfective”); for more discussion, see [146b]. In addition, it is not possible to predict for any one verb which prefix (if any) will simply perfectivize it without adding further changes of meaning (for more, see [146c]). For now, it is sufficient to learn that perfective part-ners to certain imperfective verbs can be created by adding a prefix, and that the identity of the perfectivizing prefix must be learned along with each verb.
The chart below illustrates this process. Verb forms are separated into segments according to the above model. The important point is that the ONLY change differentiating verbs in the im-perfective column from those in the im-perfective column is the addition of the prefix. The rest of the verb – the root, the theme vowel, and any suffixes – remains unchanged; furthermore, the conju-gational forms of the verb are the same. All is identical, in fact, except for the presence of the pre-fix and the addition to the meaning of the fact of perfective aspect.
PERFECTIVE BY PREFIXATION
Differentiating Feature Perfective Imperfective
addition of prefix po - pi-ti < pi-ti drink po - jes-ti < jes-ti eat o - pra-ti < pra-ti wash na - pis-a-ti < pis-a-ti write po - češlj-a-ti < češlj-a-ti comb [hair]
iz - bris-a-ti < bris-a-ti erase pro - bud-i-ti < bud-i-ti awaken
97 Reflexive verbs
The term reflexive is used in some grammars of BCS to refer to any verb accompanied by the particle se. Since only very few se-verbs are truly reflexive, however, this terminology is
mis-In sentences where these verbs occur, the particle se fulfills the function of direct object, and can be replaced by the full form object sebe without changing the sentence’s meaning. Prac-tically all such verbs refer to actions taken upon one’s own body, actions which reflect back on oneself. That is, the grammatical subject and object are one and the same. English translations do not usually include the reflexive object (oneself or the equivalent) because the identity of the ob-ject is almost always obvious. All such verbs also exist in non-reflexive, transitive variants – that is, with a direct object that is not identical with the subject. When this direct object refers to a portion of one’s own body, Croatian can add the dative reflexive particle si to emphasize this as-pect of indirect reflexivity.
Here is a list of the most common reflexive verbs (together with their non-reflexive vari-ants), followed by examples illustrating the difference between a reflexive verb (in which the ob-ject is “oneself”) and a non-reflexive verb (in which the obob-ject is something or someone else). In the list, the letter R marks a verb as reflexive; in the sentences themselves, of course, the fact of reflexivity is marked by the particle se.
REFLEXIVE VERBS
imperfective perfective
R oblàčiti se òbući se get dressed, put [something] on oblàčiti òbući dress [someone]
R svlàčiti se svući se get undressed, take [something] off svlàčiti svući undress [someone]
R čèšljati se počèšljati se comb / do one’s hair čèšljati počèšljati do someone else’s hair R brijati se òbrijati se shave
brijati òbrijati shave [someone]
R umìvati se ùmiti se wash [one’s face]
umìvati ùmiti wash
R čèšljati se Мѝра се дуго чѐшља. Mira takes a long time on her hair.
čèšljati Мо̀ја сѐстра ме чѐшља. My sister is doing my hair.
R oblàčiti se (I) Mòja жѐна се дуго о̀блачи. My wife takes a long time to dress.
R òbući se (P) Обу̀ците се, брзо! Hurry up, get dressed!
oblàčiti (I) Купа дѐте, а онда га о̀блачи. She bathes the child, then dresses it.
òbući (P) О̀буци нови пуло̀вер. Put on your new sweater.
R brijati se Њен муж се нѐ брије сваки дан. Her husband doesn’t shave every day.
brijati Воли да га брије бѐрберин. He likes the barber to shave him.
R ùmiti se (P) Хајде, децо, у̀мијте се и обу̀ците! Come on, kids – wash up, and get
dressed!
umìvati (I) У̀мивам лѝце и пѐрем руке. I’m washing my face and my hands.
Ùmivam si lìce i pèrem si ruke. [C] [same]
E dete / J dijete; B,C,S njen / C,B njezin; S berberin / C,B brijač; E deco / J djeco; S,B umivam lice / C umivam si lice; S,B perem ruke / C perem si ruke
Several other verbs, normally used transitively with a broad range of meanings, can also take on reflexive meaning by adding se. This meaning can only be properly called reflexive, however, if the particle se can be translated by the idea oneself (or if the full form object sebe can be substituted). Verbs which take an object in some other case are often grouped in this category.
In these instances, the reflexive object must be the long form (except for Croatian, which can use the short form dative pronoun si).
Pògledaj se u oglèdalo! Look at yourself in the mirror!
Mačka se krije kad gosti dòlaze. The cat hides [itself] when guests come.
Kùpiće sebi nove cìpele. She’ll buy herself [some] new shoes.
Kùpit će si nove cìpele. [same]
Òna nažalost nè može vlàdati sobom. Unfortunately, she can’t control herself.
B,C,S ogledalo / C zrcalo; S,B kupiće / B,C kupit će; S,B kupiće (kupit će) sebi / C kupit će si; B,C ne može vladati / S,B ne može da vlada
98. Review of se-verbs
A number of different se-verbs have been discussed. Some are verbs which do not exist without se (review [74]). Others are verbs for which the addition of se ascribes a particular sort of meaning to the verb in question. These meanings include reflexive (review [90]), reciprocal (re-view [87a]), inclinational (re(re-view [82a]) or desiderative (re(re-view [82b]). Very frequently the ad-dition of se makes an active verb passive (review [74] and see [139]). One of the most interesting functions of se, however, is to mark an otherwise transitive verb as intransitive. This is a very broad category, into which a number of different verb types fall. The basic definition of a transi-tive verb is one which takes (and usually requires) a direct object. Some very frequently used se-verbs are those which name the idea of an action in markedly non-transitive terms. Taking the se away from such a verb makes it causative, a verb whose specific meaning is “cause something to come about”. As the following pairs illustrate, the more neutral partner of the two is usually the se-verb.
INTRANSITIVE (with se) vs. CAUSATIVE (without se)
vràtiti se return Kada ćete se vràtiti? When are you coming back?
vràtiti return [tr.] Moram ti vràtiti knjige. I must return the books to you.
ljùtiti se get angry Nèmoj da se ljutiš! Please don’t get angry!
ljùtiti anger To me najviše ljuti. That’s what makes me the angriest.
bùditi se wake up Uvijek se rano budim. I always wake up early.
bùditi awaken Molim te, probùdi me u 7. Please wake me up at 7:00.
radovati se rejoice Radujem se što si tu. I’m happy that you’re here.
radovati make happy To me najviše raduje. That’s what makes me the happiest.
jàviti se get in touch On se svaki dan javlja. He’s in touch daily.
jàviti announce Uvek javlja dobre vesti. S/he always communicates good news.
B,C ćete se vratiti / S,B ćete da se vratite: C,B moram ti vratiti / S,B moram da ti vratim; S,B nemoj da se ljutiš / C,B nemoj se ljutiti; J uvijek / E uvek; E vesti / J vijesti
Another important function of se is to mark a statement as impersonal (review [48]). The function of se in such sentences is to focus attention completely on the action itself. Although verbs in impersonal sentences are all ones which require human subjects, the impersonal usage
contain pairs of verbs used both as active verbs and in impersonal sentences. English has no ob-vious way to translate impersonal sentences, since all English sentences must have a subject (here, usually one or impersonal you). For more discussion and examples, see [140].
IMPERSONAL vs. ACTIVE
active Не мо̀гу та̀ко гово̀рити. I can’t talk like that.
impersonal Нѐ може се та̀ко гово̀рити. You can’t say such things.
Нѐ може се та̀ко да го̀вори. [same]
active Вечѐрас идемо у по̀зориште. We’re going to the theater this evening.
impersonal Тамо се најбоље иде трамвајем. You can get there best by tram.
active О̀на нѐ једе месо. She doesn’t eat meat.
impersonal Тамо се добро једе. The food’s good [ = one eats well] there.
C,B mogu govoriti / S,B mogu da govorim; C,B ne može se tako govoriti / B,S ne može tako da se govori;
B,S pozorište / C kazalište
99 Object clauses, introduction
The pronoun što / šta means what. In its interrogative meaning it occurs in questions, either direct questions like WHAT are you doing? (review [8a]) or embedded ones like I don’t know
WHAT I’m doing (review [51]). The word što is a conjunction: in this meaning it occurs only in the spelling što. The conjunction što is frequently used in the meaning that after verbs or adjec-tives expressing emotion. It is also part of compound conjunctions, such as kao što, zato što, and others (review [50]). For discussion and more examples, seе [143b].
Even when it is a conjunction, što is still sometimes best translated by English what. In these instances, što functions to introduce an entire clause which is the subject or the object of a sentence. Frequently, the neuter pronominal adjective to is placed before što to signal this fact more clearly. BCS sentences with the sequence to što are sometimes difficult for English speakers, since the corresponding English phrase – that what (or that which) – does not often occur in English. Instances of English what which are not clearly part of questions or embedded questions must often be translated by BCS to što. For more discussion, see [143h].
ŠTA / ŠTO: interrogative
question Šta to nosiš? What’s that you’re carrying?
Šta će nòsiti sutra? What will tomorrow bring?
embedded Nikad se nè zna šta nosi sutra. You never know what tomorrow brings.
question Šta radiš? What are you doing?
embedded Nè tiče me se šta radiš kod I don’t care what you’re doing at his njega, ali moraš dòći do 10. place but you have to get here by 10.
ŠTO: conjunction
“emotion” Radujemo se što si tu. We’re pleased that you are here.
Žao mi je što ne mògu dòći. I’m sorry [that] I won’t be able to come.
part of Da li si ti iz Zàgreba kao što Are you from Zagreb, like your parents compound su tvòji ròditelji? [are]?
Pitam zato što tražim nekoga. I ask because I’m looking for someone.
subj.clause Odgòvara mu to što odgòvara He likes what we like. [ = What suits i nama. him is that which suits us as well.]
obj. clause Ne mògu ocijèniti to što radiš I can’t evaluate what [ = that which] you u òvom pogledu. are doing in this regard.
Nèću se nervìrati bez obzira I won’t get nervous no matter what nà to što mi se dògodi. [ = without regard to that which]
happens [to me].
B,S šta / C što; B,C moraš doći / S,B moraš da dođeš; B,C ne mogu doći / S,B ne mogu da dođem; J ocijeniti / E oceniti; B,C ne mogu ocijeniti / S,B ne mogu da ocenjim (ocijenim); B nà to / C,S na to