Changing the Stem for Aspect
In previous lessons, we formed perfective verbs by adding prefixes to imperfective verbs (like pisati to napisati). Another common way to create aspectual pairs in Croatian is by changing the verb's suffix or altering its stem.
Often, longer suffixes like -ivati or -avati mark an ongoing, imperfective action, while a shorter suffix marks a completed, perfective action.
Showing and Ordering
Let's look at verbs ending in -ivati. The imperfective verb pokazivati (to show) becomes perfective by shortening the suffix to pokazati. Similarly, naručivati (to order) becomes naručiti.
Notice how the present tense frequently uses the imperfective for ongoing actions, while the past tense often relies on the perfective to emphasize completed events.
Negotiating Business
Another common stem change involves vowels shifting, such as an -a- in the imperfective changing to an -o- in the perfective. For example, dogovarati (to negotiate or arrange) becomes the perfective dogovoriti (to agree on or successfully arrange).
Longer suffixes also apply to finishing tasks. The imperfective završavati describes the ongoing process of wrapping up work, while its perfective partner is završiti.
Signing Contracts and Paying Bills
When dealing with official documents like a contract (ugovor), the ongoing process of signing is potpisivati, while the completed action is potpisati.
For payments, the imperfective plaćati (to be paying) pairs with the perfective platiti (to pay successfully). You will often see these perfective forms used when discussing future intentions, promises, or single obligations.
