EasyCroatian_r47.an

Easy Croaan (rev. 47b) / 38 Needs, Wishes and Intenons 222 / 600
should.
There are two verbs that are not listed above, since they are irregular and need an
additional explanation. They are:
verb pres-3 pres-1 pres-1pl pres-3pl
htjeti want hoće hoću hoćemo hoće
moći can može mogu možemo mogu
The only surprising forms in present of these two verbs are pres-1 and pres-3pl
(check how their pres-1pl is completely expected, given the pres-3). It ends in -u for
both verbs, but the form is also otherwise irregular and must be remembered.
However, the pres-1 form of the verb moći can keeps its stress after the negation,
while all other forms – including the pres-3pl – shift the stress to negation in the
Standard scheme. (I’ve warned you that the Standard scheme is really complex, even
after I have watered it down!)
In some regions, in colloquial speech, present forms of htjeti are without the initial
h-, that is, oću, oćeš, etc. You will see it from time to time in casual writing and
popular songs.
Their past forms are expected for htjeti – like for other verbs in -jeti, e.g. vidjeti see
– but irregular for moći:
htjeti → htio, htjela
moći → mogao, mogla
(You’ll also occasionally see past-m htjeo.) ®
Both verbs are used like the others listed above:
Hoću jesti jabuku A . I want to eat an apple.
htjeti pres-1
Mogu jesti jabuku A . I can eat an apple.
moći pres-1
Možemo spavati. We can sleep.
moći pres-1pl
Mogla sam jesti jabuku A . I could eat an apple. (I=female)
moći past-f
However, the verb htjeti is considered a bit rude and impolite; željeti is a better
choice.
The verb moći is equivalent to both English can and may in everyday use. If you
would give someone a permission to do something, you would use moći.
Warning. In English, can has almost empty meaning with some verbs, like see,
hear, feel, taste (generally, ‘sense’ verbs):
I can see you. = I see you.
Croatian never uses moći in this way, for something really happening. If you play
hide and seek and see someone, you would say only: