Module 1Grammar reviewPremium
Slovene in everyday situations
Reviews practise both sides: wherever Lukas and Lena would say something differently, you do it once as each.
sem, si, je, ste
| Person | Slovene | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I am | ||
| I am | ||
| you are, familiar | ||
| you are, familiar | ||
| he/she/it is | ||
| he/she/it is | ||
| you are, polite or plural | ||
| you are, polite or plural | ||
| new male neighbour / new female neighbour | ||
| new male neighbour / new female neighbour | ||
Slovene has no articles corresponding to English a and the. Introduce yourself with or simply . The verb already identifies the person, so the subject pronoun is often omitted. The subject or identity form is called the nominative case.
means to be: singular , , . Use polite with unfamiliar adults and familiar with a child or friend. Polite addresses one person or several.
A noun belongs to masculine, feminine or neuter gender. Start with (male neighbour), (female neighbour) and (neuter name). Describing words agree: , . Keep the learner gender in both your own speech and questions addressed to you.
imam, imaš, nimaš
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I have a key. | ||
| I have a key. | ||
| You have a key. | ||
| You have a key. | ||
| Muri is not my cat. | ||
| Muri is not my cat. | ||
| What is this? | ||
| What is this? | ||
| I am hungry too. | ||
| I am hungry too. | ||
| I am not a bad neighbour. | ||
| I am not a bad neighbour. | ||
means to have: I have, you have, he/she/it has. A direct object uses the accusative. With an inanimate masculine noun it often looks unchanged: .
Negated forms join to the verb: , , . For , use , , . Learn as a whole early phrase; the genitive after negation will be practised in module 2.
Point with (this key), (this café), or neuter in Questions can use , but ordinary speech also uses question intonation:
kavo ali čaj
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A coffee, please. | ||
| A coffee, please. | ||
| I would like cake. | ||
| I would like cake. | ||
| Coffee or tea? | ||
| Coffee or tea? | ||
| Coffee and cake, please. | ||
| Coffee and cake, please. | ||
| I am hungry. I would like cake. | ||
| I am hungry. I would like cake. | ||
| I am new here. A coffee, please. | ||
| I am new here. A coffee, please. | ||
Use the accusative for what you order: kava → kavo, torta → torto. A masculine inanimate noun is unchanged: čaj → čaj. A short request with is natural:
links alternatives: ; links a list: . is a useful polite offering formula. Learn (enjoy your meal) and (nice to meet you) whole.
Possessives agree with the thing owned, not the owner: , , . After the accusative change, say .
živim, igram, hočem spati
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I live downstairs. | ||
| I live downstairs. | ||
| You play the trumpet. | ||
| You play the trumpet. | ||
| Muri sleeps here. | ||
| Muri sleeps here. | ||
| I want to sleep. | ||
| I want to sleep. | ||
| I am tired. I want to sleep. | ||
| I am tired. I want to sleep. | ||
| I am new here. I live downstairs. | ||
| I am new here. I live downstairs. | ||
In the present tense, endings identify the person: I live, you live, he/she lives; , , . Most simple verbs have first-person -m, second-person -š and third-person without those endings.
Use separate before ordinary verbs: , . Wanting an action uses an infinitive: . Do not put a finite person ending on the second verb.
Slovene uses the same present for I play and I am playing. Time words such as or make the context clear. The short request is a scene formula; commands are taught in module 5.
kje, moj, moja, moje
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the café? | ||
| Where is the café? | ||
| This is my key. | ||
| This is my key. | ||
| This is my café. | ||
| This is my café. | ||
| This is my flat. | ||
| This is my flat. | ||
| I am hungry. Where is my coffee? | ||
| I am hungry. Where is my coffee? | ||
| I am new here. Where is my flat? | ||
| I am new here. Where is my flat? | ||
asks where someone or something is: For simple locations, , , and need no preposition.
Possessive ownership forms agree with the noun: masculine , feminine , neuter . Use with familiar and with polite .
After and for a fixed location use the locative: , , . Learn these frequent phrases now; the location versus destination contrast comes in module 6.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the patterns
Tap the form described in this unit.
.
I am Ana.
.
I have a key.
, .
A coffee, please.
.
I live downstairs.
?
Where is the café?
As Lukas
.
I am the new neighbour.
As Lena
.
I am the new neighbour.
As Lukas
.
The new neighbour is here.
As Lena
.
The new neighbour is here.
.
He is Muri.
.
Muri is not my cat.
?
Coffee or tea?
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Choose the right word for the gap.
Jaz Ana.
I am Ana.
Jaz ključ.
I have a key.
, prosim.
A coffee, please.
Jaz spodaj.
I live downstairs.
je kavarna?
Where is the café?
As Lukas
Sem sosed.
I am the new neighbour.
As Lena
Sem soseda.
I am the new neighbour.
As Lukas
Tukaj je sosed.
The new neighbour is here.
As Lena
Tukaj je soseda.
The new neighbour is here.
On Muri.
He is Muri.
Muri moj maček.
Muri is not my cat.
Kavo čaj?
Coffee or tea?
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete a short message
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Jaz Ana.
I am Ana.
Jaz ključ.
I have a key.
, prosim.
A coffee, please.
Jaz spodaj.
I live downstairs.
je kavarna?
Where is the café?
As Lukas
Sem sosed.
I am the new neighbour.
As Lena
Sem soseda.
I am the new neighbour.
As Lukas
Tukaj je sosed.
The new neighbour is here.
As Lena
Tukaj je soseda.
The new neighbour is here.
On Muri.
He is Muri.
Muri moj maček.
Muri is not my cat.
Kavo čaj?
Coffee or tea?
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build useful sentences
Put the words in order.
I am Ana.
I have a key.
I live downstairs.
Where is the café?
As Lukas
I am the new neighbour.
As Lena
I am the new neighbour.
As Lukas
The new neighbour is here.
As Lena
The new neighbour is here.
He is Muri.
Muri is not my cat.
Coffee or tea?
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
I am Ana.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the Slovene pattern explained in the unit.
I am Ana.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the Slovene pattern explained in the unit.
I have a key.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the Slovene pattern explained in the unit.
I have a key.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the Slovene pattern explained in the unit.
A coffee, please.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the Slovene pattern explained in the unit.
A coffee, please.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the Slovene pattern explained in the unit.
I live downstairs.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the Slovene pattern explained in the unit.
I live downstairs.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the Slovene pattern explained in the unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
