Look at how this game is played and then you can do the same, by turning the volume down and using the imperatives of the following verbs:
NOSITI = to carry PEVATI = to sing POZDRAVITI = to greet UČITI = to learn RADITI = to do ČISTITI = to clean UGASITI = to extinguish SLUŠATI = to listen to
PRODAVATI = to sell POPRAVITI = to mend, fix KORISTITI = to use VOZITI = to drive GOVORITI = to speak ČUVATI = to keep KUVATI = to cook SIPATI = to pour
Mute the film and take charge of the action
The imperative most often addresses ti, vi or a group that includes the speaker. Forms vary by verb: pevaj–pevajte–pevajmo, radi–radite–radimo, and vozi–vozite–vozimo. Learn each command with its plural partner rather than attaching one ending blindly.
Negative commands can use nemoj, nemojte or nemojmo followed by da and the present tense: Nemoj da sipaš! Direct negative imperatives such as Ne diraj! are also common. Tone and situation decide whether a command sounds playful, urgent or rude.
One command changes with its audience
| Latinica | Ћирилица | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ponesi plavu torbu do automobila. | Понеси плаву торбу до аутомобила. | Carry the blue bag to the car. |
| Pozdravite novu komšinicu na ulazu. | Поздравите нову комшиницу на улазу. | Greet the new neighbour at the entrance. |
| Nemoj da ugasiš svetlo u hodniku. | Немој да угасиш светло у ходнику. | Do not turn off the light in the hallway. |
| Popravimo zajedno pokvarenu policu. | Поправимо заједно покварену полицу. | Let us repair the broken shelf together. |
| Sipajte sok pažljivo u male čaše. | Сипајте сок пажљиво у мале чаше. | Pour the juice carefully into the small glasses. |
Short instructions need the right person
Watch thirty seconds with the sound off and become the director. Give one command to a friend, one polite plural instruction and one suggestion with -mo; then reverse roles without reusing a verb.
- Imperative for ti: pevati.
- Complete: ______ vrata! (close, vi)
- Write Nemoj da slušaš in Cyrillic.
- Which form includes the speaker?
- Translate Popravimo zajedno.
The director calls the final sequence
- pevaj
- Zatvorite
- Немој да слушаш
- the -mo form
- Let us repair it together.
Repeat the scene with gentler intonation and please—molim te or molim vas. The grammar stays stable while the social meaning changes completely.
Marina Petrović