koristit

Koristit is a verb in South Slavic languages, most commonly written as koristiti in standard Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian. It means to use or to make use of something, and it can refer to both tangible objects and abstract concepts such as time, opportunities, or methods. A related verb with a similar meaning is iskorištavati (to exploit or take advantage of), which carries a more negative or opportunistic nuance.

Etymology and related forms: Koristiti derives from the noun korist, meaning use or benefit. The root is shared across related languages, with cognates appearing in various South Slavic varieties. The noun korist also yields several compound forms, such as iskoristiti (to exploit or to take advantage of) and koristić (as a form in future tense).

Usage: The verb governs a direct object in the accusative when specifying what is being used. Common collocations include koristiti alat (to use a tool), koristiti priliku (to seize the opportunity), and koristiti vrijeme (to use time efficiently). Prefixes can modify the meaning: iskorištavati emphasizes taking advantage of something, sometimes unethically.

Conjugation (illustrative forms):

- Present: koristim, koristiš, koristi, koristimo, koristite, koriste.

- Past (perfecive forms, masculine/feminine/neuter examples): koristio sam / koristila sam; koristili smo / koristile smo.

- Future: koristiću, koristićeš, koristiće, koristićemo, koristićete, koristiće.

Notes: Dialects and registers may show small spelling or form variations, but the standard verb remains easily recognizable across Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian. The term korisit means the same core action in related languages, with minor phonetic or orthographic differences.