I-Class Conjugation in Czech

Overview

The I-class conjugation (also called the second conjugation class) is one of the most important verb patterns you will encounter in Czech. Verbs in this class share a distinctive set of endings built around the vowel -í-, making them relatively easy to recognize once you know the pattern. This is a foundational topic at the CEFR A1 level that you will use from your very first conversations in Czech.

This conjugation class includes many common everyday verbs such as mluvit (to speak), vidět (to see), prosit (to ask/request), and slyšet (to hear). Mastering these endings early will allow you to talk about what you do, what you see, and what you want in daily life.

The personal endings for I-class verbs follow a clean, predictable pattern. Once you memorize the six forms, you can apply them to dozens of verbs without hesitation.

Formation / How It Works

To conjugate an I-class verb, remove the infinitive ending (-it, -et, or -ět) and add the appropriate personal ending.

Present Tense Endings

Person	Singular	Plural
1st (I / we)	-ím	-íme
2nd (you / you all)	-íš	-íte
3rd (he, she, it / they)	-í	-í

Full Conjugation: mluvit (to speak)

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	mluvím	mluvíme
2nd	mluvíš	mluvíte
3rd	mluví	mluví

Full Conjugation: vidět (to see)

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	vidím	vidíme
2nd	vidíš	vidíte
3rd	vidí	vidí

Full Conjugation: prosit (to ask/request)

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	prosím	prosíme
2nd	prosíš	prosíte
3rd	prosí	prosí

Note that the 3rd person singular and 3rd person plural share the same ending (-í). Context or the subject of the sentence tells you which is meant.

Some verbs undergo a consonant change in the 1st person singular. For example, vidět changes the d to d → dím (no change here), but chodit (to walk) becomes chodím. Watch for minor stem changes with certain consonants.

Examples in Context

Czech	English	Note
Mluvím česky.	I speak Czech.	1st person singular
Vidíš to?	Do you see that?	2nd person singular question
Prosíme o pomoc.	We are asking for help.	1st person plural
Slyší nás.	He/she hears us. (or: They hear us.)	3rd person — same form
Co děláš? — Učím se česky.	What are you doing? — I'm studying Czech.	učit se = to study
Nemluvíte anglicky?	Don't you speak English?	2nd person plural, negation with ne-
Prosím, kde je nádraží?	Excuse me, where is the station?	prosím used as a polite word
Nevidím nic.	I don't see anything.	Negation: ne- + vidím
Slyšíš tu hudbu?	Do you hear that music?	2nd person singular
Mluví velmi rychle.	He/she speaks very fast.	3rd person singular
Myslím, že ano.	I think so.	myslit = to think (I-class)
Nosíme kabáty.	We wear coats.	nosit = to wear/carry

Common Mistakes

Wrong: Mluvám česky. Right: Mluvím česky. Why: Czech I-class verbs take the -ím ending in the first person, not -ám. The -ám ending belongs to E-class (first conjugation) verbs like dělat → dělám.

Wrong: On mluví, oni mluvějí. Right: On mluví, oni mluví. Why: The 3rd person singular and plural are identical for I-class verbs. Do not add extra syllables to make the plural "sound" different.

Wrong: Vidíme? (meaning "Do you see?") Right: Vidíš? / Vidíte? Why: Vidíme means "we see." For "do you see," use vidíš (informal singular) or vidíte (formal/plural).

Wrong: Já nemluvím ne česky. Right: Já nemluvím česky. Why: Czech uses a single negation prefix ne- attached directly to the verb. Do not add an extra "ne" elsewhere.

Usage Notes

The I-class conjugation is used in both formal and informal speech — the endings themselves do not change with register. Formality in Czech is primarily expressed through the choice of ty (informal "you," 2nd person singular) versus vy (formal "you" or plural, 2nd person plural).

The word prosím deserves special attention. Beyond its literal meaning of "I ask/request," it functions as the Czech equivalent of "please," "you're welcome," and "excuse me." You will hear it constantly in shops, restaurants, and everyday interactions.

Practice Tips

• Drill with common verbs first. Start with mluvit, vidět, slyšet, prosit, myslit (to think), and učit se (to study). Write out the full conjugation table for each and say the forms aloud.
• Practice negation early. Simply attach ne- to the beginning of the conjugated form: mluvím → nemluvím, vidíš → nevidíš. This is consistent across all persons.
• Listen for the -í- vowel. When watching Czech media or listening to audio, train your ear to pick out the characteristic long -í- sound in verb forms. This will help you identify I-class verbs in real speech.

Related Concepts

• Personal Pronouns
• Question Formation
• Modal Verbs