Želim da kupim nešto.

I want to buy something.

Breakdown of Želim da kupim nešto.

• želeti: to want
• kupiti: to buy
• da: that
• nešto: something

Questions & Answers about Želim da kupim nešto.

Why is da kupim used instead of an infinitive, like želim kupiti?

In Serbian, after verbs like želeti (to want), it is very common to use da + present tense:

• Želim da kupim nešto. = I want to buy something.

This structure often does the job that an infinitive does in English.

You may also encounter infinitives in Serbian, and forms like želim kupiti can exist, but želim da kupim is the more neutral and very common everyday pattern, especially in modern spoken Serbian.

Why is it kupim and not kupiti or kupujem?

Kupim is the 1st person singular present tense form of the verb kupiti.

Here, because it comes after da, Serbian uses a present-tense form:

• da kupim = literally something like that I buy, but in meaning: to buy

As for kupujem, that comes from a different but related verb:

• kupiti = to buy (perfective, one completed act)
• kupovati / kupujem = to be buying / to buy regularly (imperfective)

So:

• Želim da kupim nešto. = I want to buy something.
  Focus: one purchase, a completed act.

• Želim da kupujem nešto. = I want to be buying something / I want to buy something regularly.
  This sounds more ongoing or habitual.