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Questions & Answers about Bojim se psa.
Why is it bojim se and not just bojim?
Because the full verb is bojati se, which means to be afraid or to fear. The se is part of the verb and normally cannot be dropped.
So:
- bojati se = to be afraid
- bojim se = I am afraid
This is one of many Serbian verbs that are used with se.
What form is bojim se exactly?
Bojim se is the 1st person singular present tense form of bojati se.
It means:
- I am afraid
- I fear
A few present-tense forms are:
- ja se bojim = I am afraid
- ti se bojiš = you are afraid
- on/ona se boji = he/she is afraid
- mi se bojimo = we are afraid
- vi se bojite = you are afraid
- oni se boje = they are afraid
In actual Serbian, the pronoun ja is usually omitted unless you want emphasis, so Bojim se psa is perfectly normal.
Why is it psa and not pas?
Because bojati se takes the genitive case, not the nominative.