Hladím štěně.

I pet the puppy.

Breakdown of Hladím štěně.

• štěně: the puppy
• hladit: to pet; stroke

Questions & Answers about Hladím štěně.

What form is hladím?

Hladím is the 1st person singular present tense form of the verb hladit.

So:

• hladit = the dictionary form, to pet / to stroke
• hladím = I pet / I am petting

The ending -ím tells you the subject is I.

Why is there no word for I in the sentence?

Czech often omits subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb ending.

Because hladím already means I am petting, you do not need já.

So:

• Hladím štěně. = normal, natural
• Já hladím štěně. = I am petting the puppy, with extra emphasis or contrast

Does Hladím štěně. mean I pet the puppy or I am petting the puppy?

It can mean both.

In Czech, the present tense of an imperfective verb often covers both:

• a general present: I pet
• an ongoing action: I am petting

The exact meaning depends on context. In many situations, English would naturally translate it as I am petting the puppy.