Understanding the Past Progressive in Bosnian Grammar

The past progressive tense, also known as the past continuous tense, is an essential component of Bosnian grammar. This tense is used to describe actions that were happening in the past and were ongoing or continuous during that time period. In this article, we delve into the intricacies of the past progressive in Bosnian grammar, its formation, and its usage with examples to guide your understanding.

Formation of the Past Progressive Tense

To form the past progressive tense in Bosnian, we need two components: the auxiliary verb “biti” (to be) in the imperfect past tense and the main verb in its active participle form. Here are the steps to create the past progressive tense:

1. Start with the verb “biti” (to be) in its imperfect past tense form. This will serve as the auxiliary verb for the past progressive tense. The table below shows the conjugation of “biti” in the imperfect past tense:
   

   Person	Conjugation
   ja (I)	bijah
   ti (you, singular)	bi
   on/ona/ono (he/she/it)	bi
   mi (we)	bismo
   vi (you, plural)	biste
   oni/one/ona (they)	bi

2. Next, form the active participle of the main verb. To do this, replace the infinitive ending of the verb (-ti) with the suffix -ći for regular verbs, or use the appropriate irregular form. For example:
   • govoriti (to speak) – govorći
   • pisati (to write) – pisaći
   • čitati (to read) – čitaći
3. Combine the auxiliary verb “biti” in the imperfect past tense with the main verb in its active participle form to create the past progressive tense. Example:
   • ja bijah govoreći (I was speaking)
   • mi bismo pisali (we were writing)
   • ona bi čitala (she was reading)

Usage of the Past Progressive Tense

The main function of the past progressive tense in Bosnian grammar is to describe actions that were ongoing or occurring simultaneously in the past. Here are the main scenarios in which the past progressive tense is employed:

1. Describing an action that was happening at a specific moment in the past. Example:
   • Prošle godine u ovo vrijeme, mi bismo učili za ispit. (Last year at this time, we were studying for the exam.)
2. Describing two or more actions that were happening simultaneously in the past. Example:
   • Ona bi gledala televiziju, a ja bijah kuhala večeru. (She was watching TV while I was cooking dinner.)
3. Describing an ongoing action in the past that was interrupted by another event. Example:
   • Ja bijah vozio automobil kada mi je telefon zazvonio. (I was driving the car when my phone rang.)

In conclusion, the past progressive tense is a vital aspect of Bosnian grammar, used to convey actions that were continuous or simultaneous in the past. By mastering its formation and usage, you will significantly enhance your understanding of Bosnian and improve your ability to communicate effectively in this rich and diverse language.