Nechci ztrácet čas.

I

Breakdown of Nechci ztrácet čas.

• chtít: to want
• čas: the time
• ztrácet: to lose

Questions & Answers about Nechci ztrácet čas.

Why isn’t there a separate word for “I” in Nechci ztrácet čas?

Czech usually drops subject pronouns when the subject is clear from the verb ending.

• Nechci = I don’t want
  
  • ne- = not
  • -chci = 1st person singular (I want)

So já (I) is understood from the ending -i in nechci, and you normally don’t say Já nechci ztrácet čas unless you want to emphasize I (as in “I don’t want to waste time,” but maybe someone else does).

What is the base form of nechci, and how is it conjugated?

Nechci is the 1st person singular present of chtít = to want.

Present tense (affirmative / negative):

• já chci / nechci – I want / I don’t want
• ty chceš / nechceš – you (sg.) want / don’t want
• on/ona/ono chce / nechce – he/she/it wants / doesn’t want
• my chceme / nechceme – we want / don’t want
• vy chcete / nechcete – you (pl./formal) want / don’t want
• oni chtějí / nechtějí – they want / don’t want

In Nechci ztrácet čas, the verb is in the present tense, but context can make it sound like a general statement, similar to English “I don’t want to waste time (in general / right now).”