SRPSKI JEZIK

Grammar in EnglishSRPSKI JEZIKAlphabet / Azbuka

Latin alphabet:Cyrillic alphabet:

AaBbCcDdDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlLjljMmNnNjnjOoPpRrSsTtUuVvZz

Introduction

Zdravo!Hello!Ja sam Milan Jankovi.I am Milan Jankovi.Ja sam Srbin.I am Serb.Ja govorim srpski.I am speaking Serbian.Ja sam profesor.I am a teacher.

Notes1. Names of languages are written with a small letter: Ja govorim srpski. I Speak Serbian.2. There is no article in Serbian ( a or the ). Profesor can therefore mean a theacher, the teacher or just teacher.3. Serbian is an inflected language, which means that words have different endings in different situations. Nouns, adjectives and certain pronouns have different endings according to gender, number and case. There are seven cases in Serbian, and they perform different functions. They are called:nominativegenitivedativeaccusativevocativelocativeinstrumental

Here are some examples of nouns changing their endings from the introduction.Mr. Jankovi ( in the nominative ) is gospodin Jankovi, but when he is being addressed, the vocative must be used: gospodine Jankoviu!The accusative forms of the words knjiga and porodica are knjigu and porodicu, as they are the object of a verb:knjiga a bookImate knjigu? Have you got a book?

Sounds and spelling

Vowels

There are five vowels ( a, e, i, o, u ), and they are all clearly pronounced. The consonant r sometimes acts as a vowel, in words such as vrt ( garden ) or crv ( worm ).

Consonants

1. Voiced and unvoiced consonantsTrere are ten unvoiced consonants, eight of which can be paired off with a voiced consonants. All the other consonants are voiced.voiced: b d g d v zunvoiced:p t k f s c h

2. When to use and is used:

a) in words where it replaced k and c:jak ( strong ), jai ( stronger )momak ( young man ), momaki ( of a young man )deca ( children ), deji ( children's )sunce ( sun ), sunan ( sunny )

b) in the following endings:nouns-a, -aa, aga, -e, ica, -urina, -eak, -i, -iak, -iar, -iina, -inaadjectives-aak, -iv, -iast, -iav, -ikiadverbs-ake, -aki

is used:a) in words where it replaced t:pamtiti ( to remember ), pamenje ( memory )c) in the following endings:nouns-a, -i, -oaadjectives-ai, eiverbs-i in infinitiveNote: Most surnames in Serbian end in i.

Spelling changes

3. In order to make the pronaunciation easer, the spelling of many words changes according to gender, case, etc. A letter may be dropped, or a letter may be added between two consonants.

4. The letter a appears in some forms of a word, between the last two consonants. Most often it appears:

a) in nominative singular and genitive plural of some masculine nouns: singularpluralN. momak ( young man )momciG. momkamomakab) in the genitive plural of some feminine nouns:singularplural N.sestra ( sister )sestre G. sestresestarac) in the nominative singular of indefinite adjectives:singularplural N.dobar ( good )dobri G.dobra

5. The consonant l replaces o at the end of a syllable or a word, before an ending is added:nounm. mio ( dear ), f. mila adjectiveN. posao ( work ), G. posla, D. poslu

6. The consonants k, g, h, change into , , before i or e in some forms of a word. This is called palatalizacija ( palatalisation ), and occurs as follows:a) in the vocative singular of masculine nouns:N. drug ( friend )duh ( spirit )V. druedueb) in the present tense of some verbs:moi ( to be able to )ti moe ( oni mogu )Note: In some words c changes to before e or i:N. stric ( uncle )starac ( old man )V. striestare

7. The consonants k, g, h, change into c, z, s, before i in some forms of a word. This is called sibilarizacija ( sibilization ), and it occurs:a) in the dative and locative singular of feminine nouns:N. majka ( mother )noga ( leg )snaha ( daughter-in-law )D. and L. majcinozisnasib) in the nominative and vocative plural of masculine nouns:N.s. seljak ( peasant )orah ( nut )bubreg ( kidney )N. and V.pl. seljaciorasibubrezic) in the imperative:rei ( to tell ) singularplural1st.pers. - recimo2nd.pers. recirecite3rd.pers. neka reeneka reku

8. The letter j, in combination with certain consonants, produces new consonants. This change is called jotovanje. c + j = l + j = ljd + j = n + j = njg + j = s + j = h + j = t + j = k + j = z + j =

9. Jotovanje takes place in the following forms of words:a) in the comparative of adjectives formed with the endings ji:brz ( quick ), bri ( brz + ji )tih ( quiet ), tii ( tih + ji )b) in the present tense of verbs with the stem ending in a consonant, where j is not visible in the endings jem, -je, etc.skakati ( to jump ), skaem ( skak + jem ), skae, skae, etc.c) in the imperative formed with the endings ji, -jimo, -jite:pisati ( to write )singularplural1st.pers. -piimo ( pis + jimo )2nd.pers. pii ( pis + ji )piite ( pis + jite )3rd.pers.neka pieneka piu

10. Where are two consonants together and one is voiced and the others unvoiced, the first changes into its voiced or unvoiced equivalent in order to match the second. This is done to ease prounanciation.a) if the first consonant is unvoiced and the second one voiced, the first changes into its voiced equivalent:t d primetiti ( to notice ), primedba ( comment ) k g svaki dan ( every day ), svagdanji ( daily )s z est ( six ) ezdeset ( sixty )b) if the first consonant is voiced and the second one unvoiced, the first changes into its unvoiced equivalent:b p vrabac ( sparrow ), G. vrapca d t sladak ( sweet ), slatka, slatkog k drugi ( other ), drukiji ( different )z s blizak ( near ), bliska, blisko teak ( heavy ), teka, tekoNote: these changes do not take place:i) if d stands in front of s or , e.g. gradski ( town, adj. ), odteta ( damages );ii) in a few words, usually of foreign origin, e.g. adhezija ( adhesion ), gangster ( gangster )

11. It is unusual in Serbian to find two of the same consonants next to each other. Where two words have combined to make another word and logically the resulting word should have a double consonant, only one is written and pronounced:pet ( five ) petdeset peddeset pedeset ( fifty )However, in the superlative of adjectives beginning with j, a double consonant does occur:najjai ( the strongest ), najjednostavniji ( the simplest )

12. The consonants t and d disappear in some groups of consonants which are difficult to pronounce:a) in front of c, and N. otac ( father )G. oca ( instead of otca )V. oe ( instead of ote )b) in the consonant groups stn, tn, zdn, dn, stl, stk, tnj:mesto ( village ), mesni adj. ( instead of mestni )rastao ( growing ), rasla f. ( instead of rastla )

Nouns

Gender

1. There are three genders in Serbian: masculine, feminine and neuter.

2. Masculine nouns usually end in a consonant:Beograd ( Belgrade ), paso ( passport ), mukarac ( man )

3. Some masculine nouns end in o or e. They are mostly names, or nouns of foreign origin:auto ( car ), Maroko ( Marocco ) 4. Feminine nouns usually end in a:Dragana, majka ( mother ), sestra ( sister )

5. Some feminine nouns end in a consonant. Most of these are abstract nouns:no ( night ), re ( word ), ljubav ( love )

6. Neuter nouns end in o or e:more ( sea ), polje ( field ), selo ( village ), jutro ( morning )

Number

7. There are two numbers in Serbian: singular and plural.

8. Masculine nouns ending in a consonant, form the plural by adding i:s. pl.prozor ( window )prozoriizlet ( trip )izleti

9. Feminine nouns ending in a, form the plural by changing a into e:s. pl.ena ( woman )enetetka ( aunt )tetkedrugarica ( friend )drugariceFeminine nouns ending in a consonant, form the plural by adding i:s. pl.knjievnost ( literature )knjievnostiljubav ( love )ljubavi

10. Neuter nouns form the plural by changing the final o or e into a:s. pl.jaje ( egg )jajaselo ( village )sela

11. Some nouns have only a plural form, for example:vrata ( door ), declines as a neuter noun in the pluralnovine ( newspaper ), declines as a feminine noun in the plurallea ( back ), declines as a neuter noun in the plural

Case

12. A noun is declined by adding the case ending to the noun stem. The noun stem is formed by dropping the case ending in the genitive singular:NominativeGenitiveena ( woman )en-edete ( child )det-eta

13. There are seven cases in Serbian: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, vocative, locative and instrumental. Certain cases are usually preceded by a preposition. Some prepositions can be followed by more than one case:Idem u sobu. ( Accusative )I am going into the room.On je u sobi. ( Locative )He is in the room.

Use of the cases

14. The nominative answers the question ko? ( who? ), or to? ( what? ). The subject of a sentence is always in the nominative.

15. The genitive answers the question koga? ( whose? ), ega? ( of what? ). The genitive, preceded by od, is used to express possession: od koga? ( whose? )od MarkaMark'sOvaj je auto od njegove ene.This is his wife's car.

16. The most common prepositions used with the genitive are:od ( from ), do ( until ), bez ( without ), iz ( from ), blizu ( near ), ispred ( in front of ), iza ( behind ), iznad ( above ), (po)kraj ( near ), oko ( around ), s, sa ( from ), za ( for ) etc.Danica sedi pokraj Miloa.Danica sits next to Milo.On je iza kue.He is behind the house.Podigla je knjigu sa poda.She picked up the book from the floor.

17. The genitive is used after evo and eno ( here is, there is ).Evo autobusa.Here is the bus.Eno Vojislava.There is Vojislav.

18. Koliko? ( how many? ) is followed by genitive plural.Koliko aviona ... ?How many planes ... ?

19. The genitive is used to indicate quantity. It follows:a) adverbs of quantity: nekoliko ( some ), malo ( little ), mnogo ( much ), manje ( less ), vie ( more ), dosta ( enough )Milan pije mnogo mleka. Milan drinks a lot of milk.Treba mi vise odmora.I need more rest.

b) nouns indicating measure: kilogram ( kilo ), komad ( piece ), metar ( metre ) komad hlebaa piece of bread

20. The dative answers the question kome? ( to whom? ), emu? ( to what? ). It follows the prepositions: uprkos ( in spite of ), nasuprot ( contrary to ).

21. The accusative answers the question koga? ( whom? ), or to? ( what? ). The object of a verb is usually in the accusative.Gledam televiziju.I am watching television.itam knjigu.I am reading a book.

22. Accusative endings need special attention. Note the following:

a) Masculine nouns indicating inanimate objects, feminine nouns ending in a consonant, and neuter nouns, all have the same form in the nominative and accusative singular.NominativeAccusativesto ( m. )Vidim sto. ( I see a table. )stvar ( f. )Vidim stvar. ( I see a thing. )selo ( n. )Vidim selo. ( I see a village. )

b) Masculine nouns indicating persons and animals, end in a in the acccusative singular:Vidim Vojislava.I see Vojislav.Vidim lava.I see a lion.

c) Feminine nouns in a have the ending u in the accusative singular.Jedem jabuku.I am eating an apple.

23. Some prepositions which can be followed by the accusative are: kroz ( through ), na ( on ), niz ( down ), pod ( under ), pred ( in front of ), u ( in ):Silazim niz stepenice.I am coming down the stairs.Pogledaj pod krevet.Look under the bed.These prepositions are followed by the accusative when expressing motin or direction.Idem u bioskop.I am going to the cinema.Oni se penju na planinu.They are climbing a mountain.

24. The vocative is used to address or call someone.Vojislave!Vojislav!Gospodjo!Madam!

25. The locative answers the question o kome? ( about whom? ), or o emu? ( about what? ), when preceded by the preposition o ( about ).The locative also express location, and answers the question where?, when used with the following prepositions: na ( on ), u ( in ), prema ( towards ), pri ( near ).u koliin the schoolna stoluon the table

26. The instrumental answers the question s kim? ( with whom? ), or s im? ( with what? ), when used with the preposition s, sa ( with ):s Danicomwith DanicaIt also followed the prepositions: pred ( in front of ), za (at, after ), pod ( under ), when there is no motion indicated.pod stolomunder the tablepred kolomin front of the schoolza stolomat the table

Masculine nouns

27. Standard declension of masculine nouns:singularpluralN. prozor ( window )prozoriG. prozoraprozoraD. prozoruprozorimaA. prozorprozoreV. prozoruprozoriI. prozoromprozorimaL. prozoruprozorima

28. Masculine nouns of one and two syllables can have a short (-i ) or a long (-ovi, -evi ) plural. Most monosyllabic nouns have the long plural.singularpluralN. grad ( town )gradoviG. gradagradovaD. gradugradovimaA. gradgradoveV. gradegradoviI. gradomgradovimaL. gradugradovima

29. Masculine nouns with a stem ending in two consonants other than st, zd, t and d, have the letter a between these two consonants in the nominative singular and genitive plural only. It is not present in all other cases.singularpluralN. momak ( young man )momciG. momkamomakaD. momkumomcimaA. momkamomkeV. mome!momciI. momkommomcimaL. momkumomcima

30. In masculine nouns ending in -k, -g, -h, the final consonant changes into -c, -z, -s, before i ( momak, momci ).31. In masculine nouns ending in -c, -k, -g, -h, the final consonant changes into -, -, -, before e in the vocative singular ( momak, mome ).

32. Nouns with soft stems.

Note the vocative ending u, and the instrumental ending em in the singular of nouns ending in , , d, , j, lj, nj, , . These nouns usually have the long plural in -evi.singularpluralN. konj ( horse )konjiG. konjakonjaD. konjukonjimaA. konjakonjeV. konju!konji!I. konjemkonjimaL. konjukonjima

33. The declension of otac ( father ):singularpluralN. otacoeviG. ocaoevaD. ocuoevimaA. ocaoeveV. oe!oevi!I. ocemoevimaL. ocuoevima

34. A few masculine nouns end in a, such as tata ( Dad ) and deka ( grandpa ). They decline in the same way as feminine nouns ending in a.

35. Masculine nouns ending in o in the nominative and accusative singular formerly ended in l. In modern usage the final l has been dropped in the nominative singular, but it is present in other cases:N. sto ( table )G. stola D. stoluA. sto, etc.

Neuter nouns

36. Declension of neuter nouns ending in o ( hard type ).singularpluralN. selo ( village )selaG. selaselaD. seluselimaA. seloselaV. selo!sela!I. selomselimaL. seluselima

37. Declension of neuter nouns ending in e ( soft type ).singularpluralN. more ( sea )moraG. moramoraD. morumorimaA. moremoraV. more!mora!I. moremmorimaL. morumorima

38. Neuter nouns ending in me have en inserted before the case endings in all cases except nominative, accusative and vocative singular.singularpluralN. vreme ( time )vremenaG. vremenavremenaD. vremenuvremenimaA. vremevremenaV. vreme!vremena!I. vremenomvremenimaL. vremenuvremenima

39. Some neuter nouns have et inserted before the case ending in genitive, dative, locative and instrumental singular. Such nouns are usually the word for a young animal, or a child, and are irregular in the plural.singularpluralN. dete ( child )decaG. detetadeceD. detetudeciA. detedecuV. dete!deco!I. detetomdecomL. detetudeci

Feminine nouns

40. Standard declension of feminine nouns.singularpluralN. ena ( woman )eneG. eneenaD. enienamaA. enueneV. eno!ene!I. enomenamaL. enienama

41. In feminine nouns ending in ka, -ga, -ha, the final consonant changes into c, -z, -s before i in the dative and locative singular.singularpluralN. reka ( river )rekeG. rekerekaD. recirekamaA. rekurekeV. reko!reke!I. rekomrekamaL. recirekama

42. Declension of the feminine nouns ending in a consonant.singularpluralN. no ( night )noiG. noinoiD. noinoimaA. nonoiV. noi!noi!I. noinoimaL. noinoima

43. Feminine nouns ending in o in the nominative singular formerly ended in l. The final l has now been dropped in the nominative and accusative singular, but is present in the other cases.singularpluralN. so ( salt )soliG. solisoliD. solisolimaA. sosoliV. soli!soli!I. solisolimaL. solisolima

Pronouns

Personal pronouns

1. In some of the cases personal pronouns have two forms: long and short. The long one is usually used to give more emphasis.singularN. ja ( I )ti ( you )on ( he )ona ( she )ono ( it ) G. mene, metebe, tenjega, ganje, jenjega, gaD. meni, mitebi, tinjemu, munjoj, jojnjemu, muA. mene, metebe, tenjega, ganju, je, junjega, gaV. -ti---I. mnom, mnometobomnjim, njimenjom, njomenjim, njime

plural N. mi ( we )vi ( you )oni, one, ona ( they )G. nasvasnjih, ihD. nama, namvama, vamnjima, imA. nasvasnjih, ihV. -vi-I. namavamanjimaL. namavamanjima

2. Je, ju, the accusative of ona.Je is the most usual form. Ju is used only when the word before the pronoun ends je, or the word following begins in je.Nisam je naao.I did not find her.Nije ju video.He did not see her.Sluao ju je.He listened to her.

3. Short form are not stressed at all, and cannot stand at the beginning of a sentence.eli je videti.He wants to see her.Vidim ga.I see him.

4. Long form are used to emphasise something. They are stressed and can stand at the beginning of a sentence.Njega zovem, a ne tebe.I'm calling him, not you.Njega vidim, a ne nju.I see him, but not her.

5. Long forms are always used after prepositions.On je iza mene.He is behind me.

Reflexive pronouns

6. The reflexive pronoun is se ( or sebe ). It is used instead of a personal pronoun when the action refers back to the subject of the sentence.Ona kuva za sebe.She cooks for herself.Oni vide sebe.They see themselves.

7. The declension of the reflexive pronoun ( both singular and plural ).N. G. sebe, seD. sebi,siA. sebe, seV. I. sobomL. sebi

Possessive pronouns

8. The possessive pronouns are: moj ( my, mine ), tvoj ( your, yours ), njegov ( his, its ), njen ( her, hers ), na ( our, ours ), va ( your, yours ), njihov ( their, theirs ). They all answers the question iji?, ija?, ije? ( whose? ).

9. The reflexive possessive pronoun svoj ( one's own ) repleces and takes the meaning of any of the possessive pronouns, when the possessor is the subject of the sentence or phrase.

Ja vidim svoja kola.I see my car.Mi vidimo svoja kola.We see our car.

In the third person Serbian is less ambiguous than English.On vidi svoja kola.He sees his car. meaning he sees his own car, rather than somebody else's, which would be: On vidi njegova kola.

10. The declension of moj.Moj, tvoj, svoj, na and va are all declined in the same way, except that na and va do not have the alternative short forms in the masculine and neuter genitive, dative and locative singular.

11. The declension of njegov, njen and njihov. They are declined like indefinite adjectives.

Demonstrative pronouns

12. The demonstrative pronouns are: ovaj, ova, ovo ( this ); taj, ta, to ( that ); onaj, ona, ono ( that ). They are all declined in the same way. The short forms are more common than the longer alternatives.

Interrogative and relative pronouns

13. The interrogative pronouns are: ko? ( who? ), ta? ( what? ), koji? ( which? ), iji? ( whose? ), kakav? ( what kind of? ). Some of these are also used as relative pronouns.

14. The declenesion of ko, to ( ta ). These pronouns have no plural.

N. kota G. kogaegaD. komeemuA. kogata I. kimim(e)L. komeemu

Indefinite pronouns

Here are some indefinite pronouns: neko ( somebody ), neto ( something ), niko ( nobody ), nita ( nothing ), svako ( everybody ).Indefinite pronouns are declined like ko and ta, of which they are compounds:nita ( nothing )svako ( everybody )N. nitasvakoG. niegasvakogaD.niemu, etc.svakome, etc.

The declension of sav ( all ).singularmasculineneuterfeminineN.savsvesvaG.svegasvegasveD.svemusvemusvojA.as N. or G.svesvuI.svim(e)svim(e)svomL.svem(u)svem(u)svom

pluralN.svisvasveG.svihsvihsvihD.svim(a)svim(a)svim(a)A.svesvasveI.svim(a)svim(a)svim(a)L.svim(a)svim(a)svim(a)

Adjectives

1. Adjectives qualify the noun. They can be used attributively or predicatively. When used attributively, they agree with the noun in number, gender and case. When used predicavely they agree in gender and number, but can only be in the nominative case.attributive: Ovaj stari ovek je bolestan.This old man is ill.predicative: Ovaj ovek je star.This man is old.Adjectives in the masculine singular accusative behave in the same way as nouns, the accusative is like nominative when referring to an inanimate object, and like the genitive when referring to an animate being.

2. In Serbian, qualitative, drven ( wooden ), zlatan ( golden ), and descriptive, lep ( beautiful ), nov ( new ), adjectives have two forms: definite and indefinite. Generally, the definite adjective is used attributively and the indefinite is used predicatively.isti kaput je u ormaru.The clean coat is inthe wardrobe.( attributive and definite )Taj kaput je ist.This coat is clean. ( predicative and indefinite )

The indefinite form is used when an adjective is used to describe someone or something for the first time.Ti si dobar deko, a on je lo.You are a good boy, and he is a bad boy.

When a quality is already known, i.e. has been mentioned in a previous sentence, the adjective is in the definite form.Dobri deko pomae ocu, a loi ne radi nita.The good boy helps his father, but the bad one doesn't do anything.

3. Definite adjectivesDefinite adjectives are used much more than indefinite adjectives, because they are used in all cases. ( Indefinite adjectives are only widely used in the nominative, in their predicative function. ) The masculine nominative singular of definite adjectives ends in i; the feminine in a; the neuter in o or e. beli ( white ), bela, belolepi ( beautiful ), lepa, lepo

4. The following definite adjectives do not have an indefinite forma) adjectives ending in ski, -ki, -ki or ji: gradski ( town ), zagrebaki ( Zagreb, adj. )b) ordinal numbers: prvi ( first ), drugi ( second ), trei ( third )c) comparatives and superlatives: najvei ( biggest ), noviji ( newest )d) adjectives of time and place ending in nji or ni: dananji ( today's )e) a few other adjectives, of which the most important are: isti ( same ), neki and poneki ( some, certain ).

5. Hard and soft adjectivesAdjectives in Serbian may be classified as "hard" or "soft". If the last consonant of the stem is j, lj, nj, c, , , s, d, d or the adjective is soft. Otherwise it is hard. Thus vru ( hot ) is soft but star ( old ) and nov ( new ) are hard. The only differences in declension of hard and soft adjectives occur in the masculine and neuter singular. Wherever the letter o occurs in the hard adjective endings, it is replaced by e in the soft adjectives.

6. Declension of definite adjectives

singularplural

m.n.f.m.n.f.

hard soft-i -ias N. or G.hard soft-o -e-o -e-a-u

-e-oj-oj-om-i-e-a-a-e-e

hard-og(a)-om(e,u)-om(e,u)-imsoft-eg(a)-em(e,u)-em(u)-im

-ih-im(a)-im(a)-im(a)

N. V.A.

G.D.L.I.

Note: there are shorter and longer forms in some cases ( G. novog, novoga; D. novom, novome, novomu, etc. ). When an adjective stands alone, i.e. without noun, the longer form is used.

7.The following table gives examples and nouns declined together. It does not include the vocative, the soft endings or the longer adjectival forms ( as the latter are not used when the adjective is with a noun ).

singularmasculineneuterfeminineN. novi kaput ( new coat plavo jezero ( blue lake ) bela haljina ( white dress )G. novog kaputa plavog jezera bele haljineD. novom kaputu plavom jezeru beloj haljiniA. novi kaput plavo jezero belu haljinubut novog studenta I. novim kaputom plavim jezerom belom haljinomL. novom kaputu plavom jezeru beloj haljinipluralmasculineneuterfeminineN. novi kaputiplava jezerabele haljineG. novih kaputaplavih jezerabelih haljinaD. novim kaputimaplavim jezerimabelim haljinamaA. nove kaputeplava jezerabele haljineI. novim kaputimaplavim jezerimabelim haljinamaL. novim kaputimaplavim jezerimabelim haljinama

8. Indefinite adjectives

Indefinite adjectives are not used as much as definite adjectives. They are used mainly in the nominative, as predicatives. The masculine nominative singular of indefinite adjectives ends in a consonant or o; the feminine in a; the neuter in o or e. In the feminine and neuter there is no differencein spelling between the definite and indefinite forms, but in speech the final vowel of the definite form may be pronounced longer than that of the short. However, even this distinction is now disappearing.

9.With the majority of adjectives the definite and indefinite forms are the same, exept that the final i on the masculine singular of the definite adjective is dropped to form the indefinite:stari ( definite ) star ( indefinite; old )However, in adjectives where the loss of the final i would result in the word ending in two consonants other than st, zd, t or d, the letter a is inserted between the final two consonants in the masculine nominative:hladni ( def. )- hladan ( indef., cold )but isti ( def. )- ist ( indef., clean )

Where a definite adjectives ends in li, the l is usually dropped in the nominative masculine of the indefinite form. Sometimes the l is replaced by a:beli ( def. )- beo, bela, belo ( indef., white )but topli ( def. )- topao, topla, toplo ( indef., warm )

In indefinite adjectives ending in stan, such as raznovrstan ( varied ) and koristan ( useful ), the letter t is dropped in all cases except the masculine nominative singular ( and masculine accusative of inanimate objects ).N. raznovrstan, G. raznovrsna

10. A few indefinite adjectives do not have a definite form, of which the most important are: sav ( all ), itav ( whole ) and jedan ( one ).

11. Declension of indefinite adjectivesThere is no indefinite declension for the feminine singular, and there are no plural forms for any gender. The neuter singular is the same as the masculine, except in the nominative and accusative. There is no difference between the endungs of hard and soft adjectives, and there is no vocative case. The declension of the masculine, except for the instrumental which is im instead of om, is the same as the masculine noun declension.star ( old )topao ( warm )

m.n.m.n.

staras N. or G.starostarotopaoas N. or G.toplotoplo

starastarustarustarim

toplatoplutoplutoplim

N.A.

G.D.L.I.

12.Apart from those possessive adjectives which are the same as possessive pronouns ( moj, tvoj, etc. ), there are some possessive adjectives in Serbian derived from nouns denoting persons and from personal names. Those which come from masculine and neuter nouns end in ov, -ljev, or ev, if the noun ends in a palatal consonant ( , , d, d, j, lj, nj, , ). Those form feminine nouns have the ending in.brat bratovbrother'sVojislav VojislavljevVojislav'sMilo MiloevMilo'ssestra sestrinsister's

13. The possessive adjectives ending in ov, -ljev, -ev or in are declined in the masculine and neuter singular nominative as indefinite adjectives.Piem bratovu prijatelju.I'm writing to my brother's friend.However, except in the nominative singular with masculine nouns ( bratov auto, brother's car ), these adjectives can also be declined as definite adjectives. The meaning is exactly the same.Piem bratovom prijateljuI'm writing to my brother's friend.

14.The comparativeThe comparative of an adjective is usually formed by adding ji ( -ja, - je ) or iji ( -ija, ije ) to the adjective stem, which is found by removing the ending from the genitive singular of the masculine indefinite adjective.pametan ( clever ), G. pametn-a pametniji ( more clever )

15.The following groups of adjectives form the comparative by adding ji.Note that jotovanje takes place in forming the comparative with ji. The final consonant of the adjective under the influence of j changes into a new sound, and the ending ji is often not visible.

a) Most adjectives of one syllable, with a long vowel( and a few with a short vowel )blag ( mild ), ( blag-ji ) blaiut ( yellow ), ( ut-ji ) uijak ( strong ), ( jak-ji ) jaibrz ( quick ), ( brz-ji ) brimlad ( young ), ( mlad-ji ) mlaitih ( quiet ), ( tih-ji ) tiicrn ( black ), ( crn-ji ) crnji

b) Most adjectives of two syllables ending in ak, or ok. These endings are dropped before ji:tanak ( thin ), tanjidalek ( far away ), daljidubok ( deep ), dubljiblizak ( near ), bliigladak ( smooth ), glaikratak ( short ), krainizak ( low ), niiplitak ( shallow ), pliisladak ( sweet ), slaivisok ( high ), viiuzak ( narrow ), uiestok ( strong ), ei

16.The following groups of adjectives form the comparative by adding iji.a) Most adjectives of one syllable with a short vowel:lo ( bad ), loijinov ( new ), novijiprost ( simple ), prostijislab ( weak ), slabijistar ( old ), starijivet ( clever ), vetijizdrav ( healthy ), zdravijiist ( clean ), istiji

b) Adjectives ending in o ( which developed from l ):beo ( white ), belijimio ( dear ), milijivreo ( boiling ), vrelijizreo ( ripe ), zreliji

c ) Most adjectives of two syllables not ending in ak, -ek or ok:bistar ( clear ), bistrijicrven ( red ), crvenijizelen ( green ), zelenijimudar ( clever ), mudrijiplaljiv ( shy ), plaljivijituan ( sad ), tunijid)All adjectives of three or more syllables:pametan ( clever ), pametnijizadovoljan ( contented ), zadovoljniji

17. There are three adjectives which form the comparative by adding i:lep ( beautiful ), lepimek ( soft ), mekilak ( easy ), laki

18. The following adjectives have irregular comparatives:dobar ( good ), boljizao ( bad ), goriveliki ( big ), veimalen ( small ), manji

19. There are two words for than in Serbian: nego and od. Nego is followed by the nominative, od by the genitive.

Milan je stariji od Miloa.Milan is older than Milo. nego Milo.

20. The superlativeThe superlative is formed by adding the prefix naj- to the comparative.mlad ( young ), mlai, najmlaicrven ( red ), crveniji, najcrvenijidubok ( deep ), dublji, najdubljidobar ( good ), bolji, najbolji

Remember that adjectives beginning in j have a double consonant in the superlative:jak ( strong ), jai, najjai

Adverbs

1. Adverbs do not decline. There are different kind of adverbs.

2. Adverbs of place answer the question: where?ovde ( here ), gore ( above ), blizu ( near ), nikuda ( nowhere ), nekuda( somewere )

3. Adverbs of time answer of question: when?sada ( now ), onda ( then ), jue ( yesterday ), danas ( today ), sutra ( tomorrow ), rano ( early ), kasno ( late ).

4. Adverbs of degree answer the question: how much?vrlo ( very ), mnogo ( a lot ).

5. Adverbs of manner answer the question: how?, in what way?:napamet ( by heart ), odjednom ( suddenly ), ovako ( in this way ).

6. Many adverbs of manner come from adjectives and have the same form as the neuter adjective:brzo ( quickly ), veselo ( gaily ), lepo ( beautiful ), lako ( easily ).

7. Such adverbs have comparatives and superlatives, which are formed in exactly the same way as those of the corresponding adjective.They end in e and do not change.brzo, bre ( more quickly ), najbre ( most quickly )lako, lake ( more easily ), najlake ( most easily ).

Verbs

General1. The infinite of a verb is the part which is expressed in English as "to" do something, to read, to run. It simply states the action, without giving any information about person, tense or voice. In Serbian infinitives end in ti or i.

2. In Serbian some verbal forms are based on the infinitive stem, and some on the present tense stem. In many verbs these two stems are the same, but in many others they are not. It is therefore very important that you know which verbs have the same infinitive and present stem, and which do not.

I Infinitives ending in ti.The infinitive and present tense stems of these verbs are generally the same:gledati ( to look )gledam ( I look )

II Infinitives ending in ivati, -ovati and avati.Again, the infinitive and present tense stems are generally the same. This becomes clear when the infinitive ending and the present ending, both of which are longer than in type I verbs, are removed:pokaz-ivati ( to show )pokaz-ujem ( I show )

III Infinitives ending in i.Verbs ending in i never have the same infinitive and present tense stem. Their present tense stem always ends in a consonant other than , usually g, k, d, or h. Sometimes an n is also present at the end of the stem:pomoi ( to help )pomognem ( I help )ii ( to go )idem ( I go )doi ( to come )doem ( I come )

IV Infinitives ending in sti.Verbs ending in sti do not have the same infinitive and present tense stem if the sti follows a vowel, although it may be the same if it follows a consonant. The present tense stem of these verbs usually ends in t, d, p or b:jesti ( to eat )jedem ( I eat )

3. Personal pronouns are very often omitted in Serbian. They are only used for emphasis and to draw attention to the person.

4. Verbs which can be followed by a noun ( or a person ) as object of the action are called transitive verbs.Gledam Danicu.I'm watching Danica.Sluam radio.I'm listening ( to ) the radio.

5.Many transitive verbs can be made reflexive by using the reflexive pronoun se as the object. Se does not change, and it is used for all persons. It follows the verb if there is no pronoun or noun in front of the verb. It precedes the verb if a pronoun or a noun is used as a subject.Gleda se.She is looking at herself.Ona se gleda.In Serbian many more verbs are used in a reflexive way than in other languages. In the example above, a reflexive would be expected, as the action refers back to the subject. However, a verb is often made reflexive, by the use of se, when in English there is no reference back to the subject and a reflexive would not be expected. In Serbian a reflexive is oftenused a convert a transitive verb into an intransitive one, or when the subject and object are the same.Igramo se.We are playing. ( We amuse ourselves. )Igramo fudbal.We are playing football.A reflexive is often used to express a reciprocal action by two or more people, i.e. when in English we would say "each other".On je pozdravlja.He greets her.Oni se pozdravljaju.They greet each other.

6. Verbs which have no object are called intransitive. Most verbs that express motion are intransitive: ii ( to go ), etati ( to walk ).

7. The second person singular ( ti ) is used to address a close friend, relative or child. The second person plural ( vi ) is used to address more than one person, or one person who is not well known to the speaker.

8. Imperfective and perfective verbs In Serbian there are usually two verbs for every one verb in English: one imperfective and one perfective. This enables Serbian, which has less tenses than English and some other languages, to convey the shades of meaning expressed by the various tenses in those languages. The imperfective verb expresses an action in progress or continuous over a period, and is often translated by a continuous tense in English.

Jue sam itao jedan roman itavo vee.Yesterday I was reading a novel the whole evening.

The perfective verb expresses an action which has been, or will be, completed, or perfected. It is usually translated by a simple tense in English.

Jue uvee sam proitao jednu pripovetku.Yesterday evening I read ( finished reading ) a short story.

The imperfective verb is used to express a habitual or repetitive action.

Danica uvek pomae baki da spremi ruak.Danica always helps grandma to prepare lunch.

The imperfective verb is used to describe an action in general, which may not be happening at the moment, while the perfective verb expresses a particular action done at a specific time ( even if there is no mention of time in the sentence ).

U leto nam esto dolaze gosti iz grada.In summer guests from town often come to ( see ) us.Doli su nam gosti iz grada.Guests from town have come to ( see ) us.Otac kupuje novine svakog jutra.Father buys a newpaper every morning.Kupili smo novi auto. We've bought a new car.

9. Many imperfective verbs become perfective by the addition of a prefix, such as po-, na-, pro-, o-, etc.imperfectiveperfectivepitito drinkpopitito drink uppisatito writenapisatito finishitatito readproitatito finish

Other pairs of verbs:donositi doneti ( to bring )odmarati se odmoriti se ( to rest )plaati platiti ( to pay )zaboravljati zaboraviti ( to forget )

The two verbs in some pairs are so different from each other that they should be learnt together, so that it is remembered that they are a pair.ulaziti ui ( to go in, enter )

The present tense

10. The present tense is used for following:a) to express an action happening at the moment of speaking.On slua radio.He is listening to the radio.b) to express a habitual action.Milena ide u kolu svaki dan.Milena goes to school every day.c) to express an action which started in the past and is still going on.Milan radi od est sati ujutru.Milan has been working since six in the morning.ivimo u Beogradu deset godina.We have lived in Belgrade for ten years.d) it can be used to express a future action.Prekosutra idemo na more.We're going to the seaside the day after tomorrow.e) The word da and the present tense is used after some verbs, such as znati ( to know ), eleti ( to want, wish ), nameravati ( to intend ), voleti ( to like ), as an alternative to the infinitive.elim da kupim novo odelo.I want to buy a new suit.elim kupiti novo odelo.

11. The present tense is formed by adding one of four basic groups of endings to the present tense stem. The first person singular of the four groups ends in am, -in, -em or jem. Complete models of each type are given below.

I Infinitives ending in tiThe vowel preceding the ti may indicate which type of present tense endings the verb takes:-am -imgledati ( to look )raditi ( to work )(ja) gledam(mi) gledamo(ja) radim(mi) radimo(ti) gleda(vi) gledate(ti) radi(vi) radite(on)(oni)(on)(oni)(ona) gleda(one) gledaju(ona) radi(one) rade(ono)(ona)(ono)(ona)

However, the vowel before -ti is not always a good indication of the endings a verb will take. Here is a summary of possibilities, according to which vowel precedes ti.a) verbs ending in iti always take im.b) verbs ending in uti always take emkrenuti ( to move ), krenem ( I move )c) verbs ending in eti may take em or imEndings of the em type are more common, but when they are used the present tense stem usually differs in some way from the infinitive:poeti ( to start ), ponem ( I start )When im type endings are used, the present tense stem and the infinitive stem are usually the same:videti ( to see ), vidim ( I see )There is no way of telling which present tense endings are taken by a verb ending in -eti, so the present tense of each such verb should be learned.d) verbs ending in ati usually take am, but may take im or em in the following circumstances:i) if the last consonant of the stem is , or ( sometimes ) j, -im type endings may be added:drati ( to hold ), drim ( I hold )stojati ( to stand ), stojim ( I stand )ii) if the last consonant of the stem are nj, lj or ( sometimes ) j, -em type endings may be added:poinjati ( to start ), poinjem ( I start )kaljati ( to cough ), kaljem ( I cough )Note: Some verbs ending in ati, where the last consonant of the infinitive stem is s, z, t, c, k or ks, have a different final consonant in the present tense, and em type endings:pisati ( to write ), piem ( I write )This is due to jotovanje.

Here are complete models of verbs with em and jem type endings:-em-jempisati ( to write )piti ( to drink )(ja) piem(mi) piemo(ja) pijem(mi)pijemo(ti) pie(vi) piete(ti) pije(vi) pijete(on) (oni)(on)(oni)(ona) pie(one) piu(ona) pije(one) piju(ono)(ona)(ono)(ona)

II Infinitives ending in ivati, -ovati and avati.All these verbs have a slightly longer present tense ending than other types of verbs, because of the addition of an extra vowel, u or a, before jem type endings.a) verbs ending in ivati and ovati have the letter u before jem endings:pokazivati ( to show ), pokazujem ( I show )stanovati ( to live, reside ), stanujem ( I live )b) verbs ending in avati have the letter a before jem endings:prodavati ( to sell ), prodajem ( I sell )Note: in a few verbs ending in avati, the av is part of the stem. These verbs conjugate like ati verbs: pribliavati ( to approach ), pribliavam ( I approach ).

III Infinitives ending in iVerbs ending in i always have em type endings. However, the final consonant of the present tense stem varies, and can be g, k or d, sometimes with an n added as well:pomoi ( to help ), pomognem ( I help )rei ( to say ), reknem ( I say )ii ( to go ), idem ( I go )

The final consonant may change again during conjugation. Note especially:

moi ( to be able )pei ( to bake )mogumoemopeempeemomoemoetepeepeemomoemogupeepeku

IV Infinitives ending in stiVerbs ending in sti always have em type endings, but their infinitive and present tense stem is not always the same:a) some verbs simply drop the ti and take em endings:tresti ( to shake ), tresem ( I shake )b) in other verbs the stem changes completely, and the final consonant is most often d, but can be p, b or t:jesti ( to eat ),jedem ( I eat )provesti ( to spend ),provedem ( I spend )grepsti ( to scratch ),grebem ( I scratch )

12. Jotovanje takes place where jem, -je, -je type endings are added to verbs with a present stem ending in one of the consonant affected by jotovanje. The j is no longer visible.skakati ( to jump ),skaem ( skak-jem ),skae, etc.disati ( to breathe ),diem ( dis-jem ),die, etc.rezati ( to cut ), reem ( rez-jem ),ree, etc.kretati ( to set off ),kreem ( kret-jem ),kree, etc.

13. Palatalizacija takes place where endings beginning with e are added to verbs with a present stem ending in k, g or h.moi ( to be able ), mogu, moe ( mog-e ), etc.tei ( to flow ), teem ( tek-em ), tee, etc.pei ( to bake ), peem ( pek-em ), pee, etc.

14. Questions are made by the inversion of the verb and the pronoun, and the inversion of li between them. The pronoun is very seldom used, so the inversion can not always be seen.(Oni) gledaju film.They are watching a film.Gledaju li (oni) film.Are they watching a film?Question can also be made by putting da li in front of the verb. Then no inversion takes place.Da li (oni) gledaju film?Are they watching a film?

15. Most verbs are negated simply by putting ne in front of them.Milan ui.Milan is studying.Milan ne ui.Milan is not studying.

16. Imati ( to have ) has a special negative form.positive: imam, ima, ima, imamo, imate, imaju.negative: nemam, nema, nema, nemamo, nemate, nemaju.Auxiliary verbs

17. In Serbian two verbs are used as auxiliary verbs, i.e. to form tenses of other verbs. Biti ( to be ) is used to form the past tense, and hteti ( to want ) to form the future.

18. The present tense of biti has three different forms:a) short formsam ( I am )smosistejesu

b)long form ( more emphatic )jesamjesmojesijestejejesu

c) another form ( used to form the future exact tense )budembudemobudebudetebudebudu

19.The negative present tense of biti:nisam ( I am not )nismonisinistenijenisu

20. Questions are made from biti in the following way:jesam li (ja)? ( Am I? )jesmo li (mi)? ( are we? )jesi li (ti)?jeste li (vi)?je li ( on, ona, ono )?jesu li ( oni, one, ona )?Thus to long forms ( except in the third person singular ) are usually used to form questions. However, questions can also be made by putting da li in front of the short forms:da li sam ja?( am I? )da li si ti?( are you? )

21. Hteti ( to want ) has two forms of the present tense:a) short form

uemoeeteee

c) long formhouhoemohoehoetehoehoeNote that the long form is used when hteti has its own meaning of to want, and the short form is used when it is an auxiliary verb forming the future tense of another verb.

22. The negative present tense of hteti:neu ( I don't want )neemoneeneemoneenee

The future tense

23. The future tense is formed with the short forms of the present tense of the auxiliary verb hteti ( u, e, etc. ) and the infinitive. The future tense of most verbs can be written in two ways: a) the auxiliary and the infinitive are written as two separate words, b) the infinitive ending is dropped and the auxiliary is added to the stem to form one word.raditi ( to work )a) (ja) u raditiorb) radiu ( I shall work ) (ti) e raditi radie(on)(ona) e raditi radie (ono)(mi) emo raditi radiemo(vi) ete raditi radiete(oni) (one) e raditi radie(ona)

In addition, the order of the two-word form can be reversed: raditi u, etc.

24. Verbs ending in i do not drop their endings, and u, e, etc. are never added to them, even when the order is reversed.doi ( to come )(ja) u doiordoi u ( I shall come )(ti) e doi(on)(ona) e doi(ono)(mi) emo doi(vi) ete doi(oni)(one) e doi(ona)

25. The long form of hteti ( hou, hoe, etc. ) is used to form the interrogative future.Hou li doi?Shall I come?Hoe li doi?Will you come?Hoe li doi?Will he come?

Note: if the interrogative sentence begins with da li or an interrogative word, such as kad ( when ), ko ( who ), to ( what ), the short forms of the present tense of hteti are used.Da li e kupiti auto?Will you buy a car?Kad e doi?When will you come?

26. The negative future is formed by negative present tense of hteti and the infinitive.Neu kupiti auto.I shall not buy a car.Nee ii u bioskop.You will not go to the cinema.

27. The future tense of biti.(ja) u bitiorbiu ( I shall be )(ti) e bitibie(on)(ona) e bitibie(ono)(mi) emo bitibiemo(vi) ete bitibiete(oni)(one) e bitibie(ona)

28. The interrogative future of biti.hou li biti?orda li u biti? ( Shall I be? )hoe li biti?da li e biti? ( Will you be? )

29. The negative future of biti.ja neu biti( I shall not be )ti nee biti( you will not be )

Verbal adjectives

30. In Serbian there are two verbal adjectives: the active and the passive.

31. The verbal adjective active has some of the characteristics of the definite adjective. It agrees in number and gender with its subject. It is mostly used in forming compound tenses, in particular the past tense. The verbal adjective active has the following endings:singularpluralmasculine-o-lifeminine-la-leneuter-lo-laThese endings are added to the infinitive or the present tense stem, depending on the type of verb.

I and IIIn all verbs ending in ti, the endings above replace the ti. Here are some examples:biti ( to be )bio, bila, etc.hteti ( to want )hteo, htelazvati ( to call )zvao, zvalarazviti ( to develop )razvio, razvilakrenuti ( to move )krenuo, krenula

III If the infinitive ends in i, a consonant other than is present in the verbal adjective active before the endings. It is often, but not always, the same consonant as in the present tense of the verb. Where an n is added in the present tense, this is omitted. The ending ao is added to the masculine:presentverbal adjective activemoi ( to be able )mogu, moemogao, moglapomoi ( to help )pomognempomogao, pomoglarei ( to say )reknemrekao, rekla

Exception to this are ii ( to go ) and its derivates, most of which have d or in the present tense, and in the verbal adjective active, e.g.ii ( to go )idemiao, iladoi ( to come )doemdoao, dola

IV If the infinitives ends in sti the stem of the verbal adjective active depends on that of the present tense.

a) When the stem of the present tense ends in d, t, dn or tn, the stem of the infinitive is used for the verbal adjective active, the sti being replaced by the ending:jesti ( to eat )jedemjeo, jelapasti ( to fall )padnempao, pala

b) When the stem of the present tense does not end in d, t, dn or tn, the verbal adjective active has the same stem as the present, and the masculine ending is ao:tresti ( to shake )tresemtresao, treslagrepsti ( to scratch )grebemgrebao, grebla

32. The verbal adjective passive is used in the formation of the passive voice. The passive is not very often used in speech. The following endings are added to the infinitive or the present stem.

masculinefeminineneuter

s. pl.s. pl.s. pl.

a)b)c)d)-en -eni-jen -jeni-n -ni-t -ti-ena -ene-jena -jene-na -ne-ta -te

-eno -ena-jeno -jena-no -na-to -ta

The past tense

33. The past tense is formed with the short forms of the present tense of biti ( sam, si, je, smo, ste, su ) and the verbal adjective active, which agrees with the subject in number and gender. The order of the short form of biti and the verbal adjective is reversed when the noun or pronoun is omitted: ja sam rekao, but rekao sam; rekao sam can only be used at the beginning of a sentence.

rei ( to say )ja sam rekao ( m. ), rekla ( f. ) I saidmi smo rekli ( m. ), rekle ( f. )ti si rekao ( m. ), rekla ( f. )vi ste rekli ( m. ), rekle ( f. )on je rekaooni su rekliona je reklaone su rekleono je rekloona su rekla

34. The negative pastja nisam rekao ( rekla ) I didn't saymi nismo rekli ( rekle )ti nisi rekao ( rekla )vi niste rekli ( rekle )on nije rekaooni nisu rekliona nije reklaone nisu rekleono nije rekloona nisu rekla

35. The interrogative pastjesam li (ja) rekao ( rekla )?orda li sam (ja) rekao ( rekla )? ( did I say? )jesi li (ti) rekao ( rekla )?da li si(ti) rekao ( rekla )? ( did you say? )

36. The past of biti

a) ja sam bio (bila) ( I was )mi smo bili (bile)ti si bio (bila) ( you were )vi ste bili (bile)on je biooni su biliona je bilaone su bileono je biloona su bila

b)The negative past of bitija nisam bio ( bila ) ( I wasn't )ti nisi bio ( bila ) ( you weren't )c) The interrogative past of bitijesam li (ja) bio ( bila )?orda li sam bio ( bila )? ( was I? )jesi li (ti) bio (bila)?da li si bio (bila)? (were you?)

37. The past of hteti

a) ja sam hteo ( htela ) ( I wanted )mi smo hteli ( htele )ti si hteo ( htela )vi ste hteli ( htele )on je hteooni su hteliona je htelaone su hteleono je hteloona su htela

b)The negative past of htetija nisam hteo ( htela ) ( I didn't want )ti nisi hteo ( htela )

c)The interrogative past of htetijesam li (ja) hteo ( htela )?orda li sam (ja) hteo ( htela )? ( Did I want?)jesi li (ti) hteo ( htela )?da li si (ti) hteo ( htela )?

The future exact tense

38.The future exact is formed by the verbal adjective active and a different present form of biti: budem, bude, bude, budemo, budete, budu. It is not used as much as the future tense . It may be used to refer to an action in the future which will take place before another action in the future. The present tense may also be used in such cases.Ona e doi kada bude imala vremena.She will come when she has time.

The conditional

39. The conditional can express a condition, possibility or wishes. Here are some examples:Kad bismo imali vremena, otili bismo na izlet.If we had time, we would go on a trip.

Mogli bismo ii u bioskop.We could go to the cinema.

Kupio bih novi auto.I would like to buy a new car.

40. The conditional is formed by bih, bi, bi, bismo, biste, bi and the verbal adjective active. The order of these two words can be reversed.dolaziti ( to come )ja bih dolazio ( dolazila ) ( I would come )mi bismo dolazili ( dolazile )ti bi dolazio ( dolazila )vi biste dolazili ( dolazile )on bi dolaziooni bi dolaziliona bi dolazilaone bi dolazileono bi dolaziloona bi dolazila

The imperative

41. The imperative is used to express command or request. It is formed by adding the endings i, -imo, -ite; -j, -jmo, -jte; or ji, -jimo, -jite to the present or infinitive stem. These endings are for the second person singular, and first and second person plural. The third person singular and plural are formed by neka and the present tense form.sluati ( to listen )singularplural1st. p. -slua-jmo ( let us listen )2nd. p. sluaj ( listen! )slua-jte ( listen! )3rd. p. neka slua ( let him/her listen )neka sluaju ( let them listen )

42. Some verbs with a present tense stem ending in j have no additional ending in the second person singular, and have mo and te in the first and second person plural respectively.dati ( to give ) 1st. p. -dajmo2nd. p.dajdajte3rd. p.neka dajeneka daju

43. Because of jotovanje the j is not visible in the imperative forms of many verbs which take the ending ji, -jimo, -jite.pisati ( to write )s + j = 1st. p.-piimo2nd. p. piipiite3rd. p.neka pieneka piu

vezati ( to tie )z + j = 1st. p.-veimo2nd. p. veiveite3rd. p.neka veeneka veu

vikati ( to scream )k + j = 1st. p.-viimo2nd. p.viiviite3rd. p.neka vieneka viu

44. Sibilarizacija takes place in the imperative forms of some verbs.pei ( to bake )peci, neka pee, pecimo, pecite, neka pekurei ( to say )reci, neka ree, recimo, recite, neka reku

45. The negative imperative is made by putting ne in front of the imperative: ne sluaj! ( don't listen! ). However, for milder commands nemoj, nemojmo, nemojte, can be used instead of ne, followed by an infinitive or by da and the present tense.

svirati ( to play )1st. p.-nemojmo svirati ( let's not play )2nd. p.nemoj svirati ( don't play )nemojte svirati ( don't play )3rd. p.neka ne svira ( let him not play )neka ne sviraju ( let them not play )

or pevati ( to sing )1st. p. -nemojmo da pevamo2nd. p.nemoj da pevanemojte da pevate3rd. p.neka ne pevaneka ne pevaju

46.The imperative of biti1st. p.-budimo2nd. p.budibudite3rd. p.neka budeneka budu

Negative1st. p.-ne budimoand-nemojmo biti2nd. p.ne budine buditenemoj bitinemojte biti3rd. p.neka ne budeneka ne budu--

Imperfective and perfective verbs

Here is a list of common imperfective and perfective verbs. The first verb of each pair is the imperfective, the second the perfective:

boleti/zaboletito acheistiti/oistitito cleanitati/proitatito readuvati/priuvatito look afterutati/zautatito be silentdavati/datito givedogovarati se/dogovoriti seto discuss ( imp. )/ to agree ( perf. )dolaziti/doito comedonositi/donetito bringdrati/odratito holdgledati/pogledatito lookgreiti/pogreitito make a mistakegrliti/zagrlitito embracehvaliti/pohvalitito praiseii/otiito goizlaziti/izaito go outiznositi/iznetito carry outkriti/sakritito hidekupati se/okupati seto bathekupovati/kupitito buyleiti/izleitito cureljubiti se/poljubiti seto kissmeriti/izmeritito measuremisliti/pomislitito thinknailaziti/naiito appearnalaziti/naito findobavetavati se/obavestiti seto find outodmarati se/odmoriti seto restodvajati/odvojitito put asideoseati/osetitito feelpadati/pastito fallpeglati/ispeglatito ironpisati/napisatito writeplaati/platitito paypoinjati/poetito beginpokazivati/pokazatito showpokrivati/pokritito coverpolagati ispit/poloiti ispitto take an exampomagati/pomoito helpposeiveti/posetitito visitpozivati/pozvatito call, inviteprati/opratito washprimati/primitito accept, receiveprovoditi/provestito spend ( time )pucati/puknutito shoot; burstradovati ( se )/obradovati ( se )to please ( be pleased )rastajati se/rastati seto partseati se/setiti seto rememberslagati se/sloiti seto agreeslati/poslatito sendsmetati/smestitito put, placesnalaziti se/snai seto find one's wayspremati se/spremiti seto get readysretati/srestito meetstavljati/stavitito putsumnjati/posumnjatito doubtetati/proetatito walktraiti/potraitito look fortroiti/potroitito spendtruditi se/potruditi seto make an effortulaziti/uito enterupoznavati se/upoznati seto became acquainteduzimati/uzetito take, buy, getvaditi/izvaditito take outvoleti/zavoletito lovevraati se/vratiti seto returnzaboravljati/zaboravitito forgetzadravati se/zadrati seto stay, stopzamenjivati/zamenitito changezapaati/zapazitito noticezaustavljati/zaustavitito stopzvoniti/zazvonitito ringeleti/zaeletito wishuriti/pouritito hurry

Ii ( to go ) and its compounds

Ii is an imperfective verb. When a preposition is added as a prefix to give it a precise meaning, iz ( out ), izai ( to go out ), this new form is automatically perfective. It is therefore necessary to make a new imperfective form for the new verb: izlaziti.The following are some of the more common compounds of ii, which occur in the course and are formed according to this pattern:dolaziti/doi ( ii + do, up to )to comeodlaziti/otii ( ii + od, away from )to go awaynalaziti/naito come upon, to findpolaziti/poito set offprolaziti/proito pass bysilaziti/siito go downprelaziti/preito crossprilaziti/priito approach, come up to

Numbers

Cardinal numbers

1 jedan, jedna, jedno11 jedanaest2 dva ( m. and n. ), dve ( f. )12 dvanaest3 tri13 trinaest4 etiri14 etrnaest5 pet15 petnaest6 est16 esnaest7 sedam17 sedamnaest8 osam18 osamnaest9 devet19 devetnaest10 deset20 dvadeset

21 dvadeset (i) jedan101 sto (i) jedan22 dvadeset (i) dva200 dvesta30 trideset300 trista40 etrdeset400 etristo50 pedeset500 petsto60 ezdeset600 esto70 sedamdeset700 sedamsto80 osamdeset800 osamsto90 devedeset900 devetsto100 sto1000 hiljada

Notes on cardinal numbers

1. Jedan, jedna, jedno behaves like an adjective. It always agrees in number, gender and case with the noun it is with. Here is its full declension:

singularplural

m.n.f.m.n.f.

N.A.G.D.I.L.jedan jednoas N. or G. jednojednog(a)jednom(u)jednimjednomjednajednujednejednojjednomjednojjedni jedna jednejedne jedna jednejednihjednim(a)jednim(a)jednim(a)

Compound numbers ending in one agree with the noun, which is always singular, in gender and case:Kupio sam dvadeset (i) jednu novu knjigu.I've bought 21 new books.

Jedan has additional meanings to the English one. It is sometimes used as an article, and can mean a, a certain, and in the plural, some, certain:jedan oveka man, a certain man

2. Dva, dve, tri and etiri behave as nouns. Dva is used with masculine and neuter nouns, dve with feminine. A noun following any of these numbers, or a compound number ending in 2, 3, or 4, is in the genitive singular:dva sinatwo sonsdve sobetwo roomstri stolathree tablesetiri knjigefour booksdvadeset i dve knjigetwenty-two books

Declensions of these cardinal numbers exist but are rarely used in the modern language.

3.Cardinal numbers from five to ten, and all compound numbers ending in 5, 6,7, 8, 9,0, are followed by genitive plural:dva sinabutpet sinova( five sons )dve sobe butosam soba( eight rooms )

Numbers from five upwards are not declined, except for stotina, hiljada, which have regular feminine singular declension.

4. Verbs with cardinal numbersAfter dva ( dve ), tri and etiri, although the noun is in the genitive singular, the verb is in the plural. In the past tense a masculine noun has a verb with a neuter plural ending.Tri deaka su otila na fudbalsku utakmicu.Three boys went to a football match.Ove dve devojke su bile u bioskopu.These two girls have been to the cinema.

After numbers ending in 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0, the noun is in the genitive plural, but the verb is neuter singular.Pet uenika je gledalo utakmicu.Five schoolboys watched the match.est ena je sedelo za istim stolom.Six women sat at the same table.

Collective numerals

5. Collective numerals are used quite often in Serbian. The following types are the most common:a) those ending in ica: dvojica, trojica, etvorica, petorica and obojica ( both ), are used when referring collectively to masculine animates. They are declined as feminine singular nouns, but take a neuter plural verb.Trojica su otila u bioskop.The three ( of them ) went to the cinema. ( males only )b) dvoje, troje, etvoro, petoro, and so on, refer collectively to a group of nouns of mixed gender, and take a neuter singular verb.Nas troje je otilo u bioskop.The three of us went to the cinema. ( male and female )c) There are no collective numerals for females only. The ordinary cardinal number is used.

Ordinal numbers

1stprvi, prva, prvo7thsedmi2nddrugi, druga, drugo8thosmi3rdtrei, trea, tree9thdeveti4thetvrti, etvrta, etvrto10thdeseti5thpeti, peta, peto11thjedanaesti6thesti, etc.12thdvanaesti

13th trinaesti20thdvadeseti14thetrnaesti21stdvadeset (i) prvi15thpetnaesti22nddvadeset (i) drugi16thesnaesti30thtrideseti17thsedamnaesti100thstoti18thosamnaesti200thdvestoti19thdevetnaesti1000thhiljaditi

Note on ordinal numbers.All ordinal numbers are adjectives and agree in number, gender and case with the noun they qualify. In compound ordinal numbers only the last element has ordinal form and agrees with the noun, the preceding elements being cardinal:Stotinu ezdeset (i) tri dan.The one hundred and sixty third day.

Word order in Serbian is on the whole very flexible, thanks to the case endings and the clearly differentiated verb endings. In one instance, however, word order is strict. This is in the use of short forms of auxiliary verbs and pronouns. These small words ( called 'enclitics' ) carry no stress; they are pronounced almost as part of the preceding or following word. As they are unstressed, they cannot be placed in any position in a sentence where they would be obliged to carry stress; they cannot be placed first in a sentence or subordinate clause. The further on in sentence they are placed, the more likely they are to be stressed, and so they are placed as near as possible to the beginning of the sentence or clause, usually as the second word.Look at the following examples:

a) Short form of verbsDa li ste student?Are you a student?

Da, ja sam student.Yes, i am a studentDa, student sam.

In subordinate clauses of a complex sentence, verbal short forms are placed immediately after the word introducing the subordinate clause:Rekao sam da sam student.I said I was (am) a student.Mislim da e doi.I think they will come.To je prijatelj koji je bio s nama u Parizu.This is the friend who was with us in Paris.Pitali smo ih gde su bili.We asked them where they were.

b) Short forms of pronounsThe same rule applies, as in the following examples:Svia mi se Beograd.I like Belgrade. ( Belgrade pleases me. )Pitao je da li mi se svia Beograd.He asked if I liked Belgrade ( if Belgrade pleases me ).Piu nam da e doi.They write (us) that they'll come.Oni nam piu da e doi.

Note that the long forms of pronouns must always be used after prepositions and in any position of emphasis:Vidim ga esto.I see him often.ButTo je poklon za njega.This is a present for him.Molim te, pii nam: daleko smo od tebe.I beg you, write to us: we are a long way away from you.

c) Verb and pronoun short forms in the same sentenceIn sentences where auxiliary verbs are used to form the past or the future, and there are short forms of pronouns present too, a strict hierarchy governs the order they follow; remember the following formula:VERBAL ( except je ), PRONOMINAL ( in order: DATIVE, ACCUSATIVE, GENITIVE ), REFLEXIVE (se), je.Remember that je always comes last. Here are some examples:Videli su (VE) nas (A).They saw us.ButVideo nas je.He saw us.Dao sam (VE) mu (D) ga (A).I gave him it.ButDao mu ga je.He gave him it.Baka i deda su im se uvek hvalili.Grandma and Grandpa were always boasting to them.

This will probably seem very complicated at first, but if you look carefully at sentences in the course and practise forming them yourself, it will soon become quite natural and the words will sound wrong if you put them in the wrong order.

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