Full verb to be (jesam, jesi)

The Full Forms of "To Be"

So far, you have seen the short forms of the verb biti (to be), such as sam, si, and je. However, Croatian also has full forms:

These full forms are essential for three specific situations: asking questions, giving short answers, and adding emphasis.

Asking and Answering Questions

To ask a yes/no question using the verb "to be", start with the full form of the verb, followed immediately by the question particle li.

When answering "yes" to these questions, you cannot use a short-form verb by itself like you do in standard statements. You must reply using the full form.

Adding Emphasis

Finally, you can use the full forms in regular statements to add strong emphasis. This is similar to stressing the verb in English when confirming something or contradicting someone.