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Grammar · A1

The verb "⁠съм⁠" (to be)

"⁠Съм, си, е, сме, сте, са⁠" are never left out and never start a sentence.

"⁠Съм⁠" has six forms — see the table. Two rules:

1. Don't leave it out. "⁠Аз съм лекар.⁠" (I'm a doctor), "⁠Тя е от Пловдив.⁠"

2. Don't start with it. These little words lean on the word before them. With no "⁠аз⁠", "⁠ти⁠"… in front, put them after the opening word or phrase:

  • "⁠От София съм.⁠" (not "⁠Съм от София.⁠")
  • "⁠Студентка е.⁠" (She's a student.)

Questions: "⁠ли⁠" goes between the word and the verb: "⁠Студент ли си?⁠", "⁠Вие ли сте госпожа Петрова?⁠"

Negative: "⁠не⁠" before the verb: "⁠Не съм оттук.⁠" (I'm not from here.)

ЛицеЕдинствено числоМножествено число
1аз съмние сме
2ти сивие сте
3той / тя / то ете са

Examples

Аз съм Иван.

I'm Ivan.

Тя е от Пловдив.

She's from Plovdiv.

Студент ли си?

Are you a student?

Ние сме в хотела.

We're at the hotel.

Вие ли сте госпожа Петрова?

Are you Mrs Petrova?

От Варна са.

They're from Varna.

Quick quiz

Ние ___ от Украйна.

Те ___ в София.

Which is correct?

You can leave out "⁠е⁠" and say "⁠Той лекар.⁠"

Ask a friend if he's a student:

Grammar

Noun gender

Every noun is masculine, feminine or neuter — and its ending usually tells you which.

A1

Plural

Most nouns take -и, neuter nouns take -а or -та, and a few are irregular.

A1

The definite article

Bulgarian the is glued to the end of the word: "⁠маса → масата⁠".

A1