Understanding the Future Progressive in Serbian Grammar

Serbian grammar is known for its complexity and richness, requiring a deep understanding of its various nuances. Among the numerous tenses and aspects it contains, the Future Progressive stands as a vital component in the proper mastery of the Serbian language. In this article, we will explore this tense and its usage, conjugation rules, and significance, so as to provide a detailed understanding of the topic.

Function and Usage of the Future Progressive

The Future Progressive tense, sometimes referred to as the Future Continuous tense, primarily serves to express actions or events that will be ongoing or unfolding at a certain point in the future. This makes it highly useful in describing future actions with an emphasis on their duration and progress.

Some common instances in which the Future Progressive is employed include:

1. Indicating prolonged or continuous actions in the future, often in conjunction with specific timelines.
2. Describing two simultaneous future events or actions.
3. Expressing future intentions or plans in a subtle manner, without explicitly committing to them.

Conjugating Verbs in the Future Progressive Tense

To construct the Future Progressive in Serbian, one must begin by understanding the conjugation rules associated with it. First, let’s look at the auxiliary verb that forms the basis of this tense: бити (to be).

Conjugation of the auxiliary verb “бити” in Future Progressive:


1st Person Singular: ја ћу бити (I will be)
2nd Person Singular: ти ћеш бити (you will be)
3rd Person Singular: он/она/оно ће бити (he/she/it will be)
1st Person Plural: ми ћемо бити (we will be)
2nd Person Plural: ви ћете бити (you will be)
3rd Person Plural: они/оне/она ће бити (they will be)


Next, it is crucial to learn the conjugation for the main verb, which carries the element of progression or continuity.

Aspectual Pairs and the Future Progressive

In Serbian, many verbs come in pairs, with one being perfective and the other imperfective. To form the Future Progressive tense, it is essential to use the imperfective verb, as it denotes a continuous or ongoing nature of the action. The conjugation of the main verb is achieved by adding the appropriate form of the verb ‘бити’ after the main verb.

For example, let’s consider the imperfective verb pair писати (to write):


1st Person Singular: Ја ћу писати (I will be writing)
2nd Person Singular: Ти ћеш писати (you will be writing)
3rd Person Singular: Он/она/оно ће писати (he/she/it will be writing)
1st Person Plural: Ми ћемо писати (we will be writing)
2nd Person Plural: Ви ћете писати (you will be writing)
3rd Person Plural: Они/оне/она ће писати (they will be writing)


It is important to note that the word order may be subject to change in more complex sentences or when placing emphasis on specific parts of the sentence.

Examples of the Future Progressive in Context

To further illustrate the various applications of the Future Progressive tense, here are some example sentences:

1. Сутра у ово време ћу радити на пројекту. (Tomorrow at this time, I will be working on the project.)
2. Бићемо на одмору неколико недеља. (We will be on vacation for several weeks.)
3. Док она готови вечеру, он ће бити у купатилу. (While she is cooking dinner, he will be in the bathroom.)

By mastering the Future Progressive tense in Serbian, both native speakers and language learners can effectively communicate future plans and actions with clarity and precision. With the knowledge gained from this article, a solid foundation has been established for further exploration of this fascinating language.