Conjugation (-u/-es) in Czech

Overview

The -u/-es conjugation pattern covers verbs whose present tense forms use the endings -u, -es, -e, -eme, -ete, -ou. Many common verbs follow this pattern, including nest (to carry), pect (to bake), moct (can/be able to), and jit (to go on foot). This class often includes verbs with consonant changes in the stem.

At the A1 level, you will encounter several high-frequency irregular verbs that belong to this group. While the endings themselves are regular, the verb stems can undergo changes that require individual memorization. This makes the -u/-es class somewhat less predictable than the -am/-as class.

The verbs in this pattern include some of the most essential everyday vocabulary, so investing time in learning their forms early pays off significantly.

How It Works

Present Tense Endings

Person	Ending	Example: nest (to carry)
ja	-u	nesu
ty	-es	neses
on/ona/ono	-e	nese
my	-eme	neseme
vy	-ete	nesete
oni/ony/ona	-ou	nesou

Common Verbs in This Pattern

Infinitive	Meaning	1st sg.	Note
nest	to carry	nesu	Regular
pect	to bake	pecu	c/c alternation
moct	can	mohu/muzu	Two 1st person forms
jit	to go	jdu	Suppletive stem
jet	to go (vehicle)	jedu	Different stem
psat	to write	pisu	Stem change
brat	to take	beru	Stem change

Stem Changes

Many verbs in this class show consonant or vowel alternations between the infinitive and present stems:

• psat (write) -> pisu (s -> s with vowel change)
• brat (take) -> beru (vowel insertion)
• jit (go) -> jdu (completely different stem)

Examples in Context

Czech	English	Note
Nesu to.	I'm carrying it.	Regular stem
Peces kolac?	Are you baking a cake?	Stem: pec-
Muze prijit.	He/She can come.	moct -> muze
Jdou domu.	They're going home.	jit -> jd- stem
Pisu dopis.	I'm writing a letter.	psat -> pis-
Beru to.	I'm taking it.	brat -> ber-
Jedeme do Brna.	We're going to Brno.	jet -> jed-
Ctu knihu.	I'm reading a book.	cist -> ct-
Nesete to?	Are you carrying it?	Plural/formal
Pecou chleb.	They bake bread.	3rd plural

Common Mistakes

Applying -am/-as Endings to These Verbs

• Wrong: Pisam dopis.
• Right: Pisu dopis.
• Why: Psat belongs to the -u/-es class, not the -am/-as class. The infinitive ending does not always predict the conjugation pattern.

Forgetting Stem Changes

• Wrong: Jiu domu. (from jit without stem change)
• Right: Jdu domu.
• Why: Many -u/-es verbs have irregular stems that must be learned individually.

Confusing Mohu and Muzu

• Wrong: Neither is wrong, but mixing patterns within a text
• Right: Use muzu in casual contexts, mohu in formal contexts
• Why: Both are correct first-person forms of moct. Mohu is more literary; muzu is more colloquial.

Usage Notes

The -u/-es class contains many of Czech's most ancient and essential verbs, which is why they show more irregularity. In colloquial Czech, some forms are further simplified (e.g., muzu is preferred over mohu in speech).

Practice Tips

1. Learn stem pairs: For each verb, memorize the infinitive-present pair: psat/pisu, brat/beru, jit/jdu. This builds the correct association.
2. Focus on high-frequency verbs first: Start with jit, jet, moct, psat, cist since you will use these daily.
3. Create present tense narratives: Describe what is happening right now using these verbs to practice the forms in context.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Personal Pronouns -- subject pronouns for conjugation