Arriving & Leaving
Доћи и отићи — до-, од-, у-, из-, про- — prefixes put direction inside the verb.
Come and go
доћи means arrive/come; отићи means leave/go away. Their past forms are дошао/дошла and отишао/отишла.
Дошао сам у осам, а отишао у десет.
I came at eight and left at ten.
Enter and exit
ући means enter; изаћи means go out/exit. Pair them with у/из phrases when a place matters.
Ушла је у продавницу и брзо изашла.
She entered the shop and quickly came out.
Approach and pass
прићи is approach, проћи is pass/go through, прећи is cross. The prefix carries a spatial picture.
Пређите улицу на семафору.
Cross the street at the traffic light.
Arrival and return
стићи means arrive/reach; вратити се means return. Perfective verbs naturally describe one completed trip.
Кад стигнем, јавићу ти се.
When I arrive, I'll contact you.
Put It Together
Keep the lesson goal in view: до-, од-, у-, из-, про- — prefixes put direction inside the verb. Revisit the examples, then test yourself in practice.