A
O
M
R
D
Q
U
A
M
G
Q
V
H
D
H
F
D
G
S
E
C
G
Q
L
E
A
D
P
G
R
W
S
L
N
A
N
X
Z
A
X
X
M
F
E
L
B
C
A
R
H

A1 Serbian Grammar — 71 Topics & Common Mistakes

Every A1 topic below gives you the key rule, real correct-vs-incorrect examples, and the mistakes learners actually make — covering cases, verb tenses, pronouns and more.

Browse all 71 topics on this pageShow
Lenguia Premium

Learn A1 serbian grammar by using it.

Stories, AI conversations and practice exercises built around these exact topics — at your level.

Try for Just $1
A1Cases

Three Genders (m/f/n) & How to Recognise Them

Tri roda imenica

Every Serbian noun belongs to one of three grammatical genders: masculine, feminine, or neuter. You can usually tell the gender from the ending of the dictionary form. Most masculine nouns end in a consonant (grad, prozor, sto). Most feminine nouns end in -a (žena, knjiga, kuća). Neuter nouns end in -o or -e (selo, more, dete). Gender is not about biology only — a table or a book has a gender too. Gender matters because it controls everything that agrees with the noun: adjectives, pronouns, the past tense, and the endings the noun takes in each case. A quick test is to put taj (m), ta (f), or to (n) in front of the word.

Key rule

Masculine nouns usually end in a consonant, feminine in -a, neuter in -o/-e; learn each noun with its gender because gender controls all agreement.

Examples

  • Ovo je dobar grad.
    Ovo je dobra grad.

    Grad ends in a consonant, so it is masculine and the adjective is dobar, not the feminine dobra.

  • Ona je dobra žena.
    Ona je dobar žena.

    Žena ends in -a (feminine), so the adjective must be dobra, not masculine dobar.

  • To je veliko selo.
    To je veliki selo.

    Selo ends in -o (neuter), so the adjective is veliko, not the masculine veliki.

Common mistakes

  • Treating consonant-final nouns as always masculine

    Ovo je velik noć.
    Ovo je velika noć.

    Some consonant-final nouns (noć, stvar, ljubav, reč) are feminine; their gender must be memorised, not guessed from the ending.

  • Treating -a nouns ending as always feminine

    Moja deda je star.
    Moj deda je star.

    A few -a nouns denoting males (tata, deda, vladika) are masculine and take masculine agreement.

A1Cases

No Articles (a/the absent; definiteness via context)

Nema članova (a/the)

Serbian has no words for a, an, or the. A bare noun can mean either 'a book' or 'the book' depending on context. So Knjiga je na stolu can mean 'A book is on the table' or 'The book is on the table' — the situation tells you which. To show whether something is new or already known, Serbian uses word order, the demonstratives ovaj/taj/onaj (this/that), the number jedan (one ≈ 'a'), and later the definite vs indefinite adjective form. Do not try to translate English a/the with a separate word; just drop them. This feels strange at first but quickly becomes natural.

Key rule

Serbian uses no article words — a bare noun is both 'a' and 'the'; definiteness comes from context, word order, demonstratives, or jedan.

Examples

  • Knjiga je na stolu.
    Ta knjiga je na ta stolu.

    No article is needed; piling on demonstratives to imitate 'the' is wrong and unnatural.

  • Pas laje.
    Jedan pas laje napolju, a the pas spava.

    There is no word the in Serbian; the bare noun pas already covers both 'a dog' and 'the dog'.

  • Kupujem hleb.
    Kupujem a hleb.

    English 'a' has no equivalent; the object is simply hleb.

Common mistakes

  • Inserting English a before a noun

    Imam a brata.
    Imam brata.

    Serbian has no indefinite article; the bare accusative brata is complete.

  • Inserting English the before a noun

    Gde je the ključ?
    Gde je ključ?

    There is no definite article; context shows whether ključ means 'a key' or 'the key'.

A1Cases

Nominative — Subject & Citation Form

Nominativ — padež subjekta

The nominative (nominativ) is the basic form of a noun — the one you find in the dictionary. It is used for the subject of the sentence: the person or thing doing the action. In Dečak čita ('The boy is reading'), dečak is in the nominative because the boy is the one reading. The nominative answers the questions ko? ('who?') for people and šta? ('what?') for things. It is also the form used after the verb 'to be' as a predicate: On je student. All the other cases are built starting from the nominative stem, so it is the natural starting point for learning the case system.

Key rule

The nominative is the dictionary form and the case of the subject (and of a predicate noun after biti); it answers ko? / šta?

Examples

  • Dečak čita knjigu.
    Dečaka čita knjigu.

    The subject (the one reading) must be in the nominative dečak, not the accusative dečaka.

  • Žena radi u školi.
    Ženu radi u školi.

    The doer of the action is the subject and stands in the nominative žena, not ženu.

  • Voz kasni.
    Voza kasni.

    Voz is the subject; the nominative is voz, while voza would be genitive.

Common mistakes

  • Putting the subject in an oblique case

    Brata radi u banci.
    Brat radi u banci.

    The subject must be nominative; brata is accusative/genitive and cannot be the doer.

  • Using accusative for a predicate noun

    Ona je lekarku.
    Ona je lekarka.

    After biti the predicate noun is nominative: lekarka, not the accusative lekarku.

A1Cases

Accusative — Direct Object & Animacy

Akuzativ — objekat i živo/neživo

The accusative (akuzativ) is the case of the direct object — the thing or person directly affected by the action. It answers koga? ('whom?') and šta? ('what?'). Feminine -a nouns are easy: -a changes to -u (žena → vidim ženu). For masculine nouns there is one extra rule, animacy: if the noun is alive (a person or animal), the accusative looks like the genitive and adds -a (vidim brata, vidim psa). If the masculine noun is not alive (an object), the accusative is the same as the nominative (vidim sto, vidim voz). Neuter nouns never change in the accusative (vidim selo, vidim dete).

Key rule

The direct object goes in the accusative: feminine -a→-u, neuter unchanged, masculine animate = genitive (+a), masculine inanimate = nominative.

Examples

  • Vidim brata.
    Vidim brat.

    Brat is an animate masculine, so the accusative adds -a: brata, not the bare brat.

  • Vidim sto.
    Vidim stoa.

    Sto is an inanimate masculine, so the accusative equals the nominative: sto, with no -a added.

  • Čitam knjigu.
    Čitam knjiga.

    Feminine -a becomes -u in the accusative: knjigu, not knjiga.

Common mistakes

  • No -a on an animate masculine object

    Vidim čovek na ulici.
    Vidim čoveka na ulici.

    Animate masculines take the genitive-like accusative -a: čoveka, because the accusative of living things equals the genitive.

  • Adding -a to an inanimate masculine

    Kupujem hleba.
    Kupujem hleb.

    Inanimate masculines keep the nominative form in the accusative: hleb; hleba would be genitive (used only after negation/quantity).

A1Cases

Genitive — Formation (-a, -e endings)

Genitiv — građenje

The genitive (genitiv) is one of the most used Serbian cases. First learn how to build it. Masculine and neuter nouns take -a: grad → grada, prozor → prozora, selo → sela. Feminine -a nouns take -e: žena → žene, knjiga → knjige, reka → reke. Feminine nouns ending in a consonant take -i: noć → noći, stvar → stvari. The genitive answers koga? ('of whom?') and čega? ('of what?'). You will use it constantly for possession (krov kuće), after negation (nema hleba), after quantities (čaša mleka), and after many prepositions (od grada, iz škole). Getting the endings automatic now pays off everywhere.

Key rule

Genitive singular: masculine and neuter take -a, feminine -a→-e, feminine consonant-final →-i; it answers koga? / čega?

Examples

  • krov kuće
    krov kuća

    Feminine kuća forms the genitive in -e: kuće, not the nominative kuća.

  • vrata grada
    vrata grad

    Masculine grad takes the genitive ending -a: grada, not the bare grad.

  • boja mora
    boja more

    Neuter more takes -a in the genitive: mora, not the nominative more.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving a feminine -a noun unchanged

    kraj reka
    kraj reke

    Feminine -a nouns form the genitive in -e: reke, not the nominative reka.

  • Using -e instead of -i for consonant-final feminines

    do noće
    do noći

    Feminine consonant-final nouns take -i in the genitive: noći, not -e.

A1Cases

Genitive for Possession (knjiga mog brata)

Genitiv — pripadanje

One of the main jobs of the genitive is to show possession — the 'of' relationship. The possessor goes in the genitive and usually comes after the thing possessed: krov kuće ('the roof of the house'), knjiga mog brata ('my brother's book'), auto moga oca ('my father's car'). Any adjective or possessive pronoun with the possessor also goes into the genitive and agrees with it (mog brata, moje sestre). Where English says 'the X of Y' or 'Y's X', Serbian says X + Y-in-the-genitive. This is extremely common, so it is worth practising until the word order and the endings come automatically.

Key rule

Show possession by putting the possessor (with its modifiers) in the genitive, after the thing possessed: krov kuće, knjiga mog brata.

Examples

  • knjiga mog brata
    knjiga moj brat

    The possessor and its pronoun go in the genitive: mog brata, not the nominative moj brat.

  • auto moga oca
    auto moj otac

    The possessor must be genitive: moga oca; moj otac is the nominative subject form.

  • krov kuće
    krov kuća

    The possessor kuća goes into the genitive kuće.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the possessor in the nominative

    knjiga moj brat
    knjiga mog brata

    The possessor goes in the genitive together with its pronoun: mog brata.

  • Not declining the possessive pronoun

    auto moj oca
    auto mog oca

    The pronoun must agree with the genitive possessor: mog oca, not moj oca.

A1Cases

Genitive after Negated imati (Nemam vremena)

Genitiv uz odričan glagol

When you say you do NOT have something, the object often goes in the genitive instead of the accusative. Compare Imam vremena... wait — affirmatively you say Imam vreme / Imam novac, but in the negative the object very commonly becomes genitive: Nemam vremena ('I have no time'), Nemam novca ('I have no money'), Nema hleba ('There is no bread'). The verb nemati ('not have') and the impersonal nema ('there isn't') strongly pull the object into the genitive. This genitive expresses 'not any of it' — a partitive sense of absence. With mass and abstract nouns (vreme, novac, hleb, vode) the genitive is the natural choice and sounds much better than the accusative.

Key rule

After negated imati (nemati) and the existential nema, the object goes in the genitive: Nemam vremena, Nema hleba.

Examples

  • Nemam vremena.
    Nemam vreme.

    After nemati the object goes in the genitive: vremena, expressing total absence.

  • Nema hleba.
    Nema hleb.

    The existential nema is always followed by the genitive: hleba, not the nominative/accusative hleb.

  • Nemam novca.
    Nemam novac.

    The negated object shifts to the genitive novca; novac is the affirmative accusative.

Common mistakes

  • Accusative kept after nemati

    Nemam vreme danas.
    Nemam vremena danas.

    The negated object of nemati takes the genitive: vremena.

  • Nominative after the existential nema

    Nema hleb u kući.
    Nema hleba u kući.

    The existential nema is always followed by the genitive: hleba.

A1Cases

Genitive after Quantity Words (malo vode, čaša mleka)

Genitiv uz količinu

When you measure or count an amount of something, the substance goes in the genitive. After words like malo ('a little'), mnogo ('a lot'), and after container or measure words like čaša ('a glass'), šolja ('a cup'), kilo ('a kilo'), litar ('a litre'), the following noun is in the genitive: čaša vode ('a glass of water'), malo mleka ('a little milk'), mnogo ljudi ('many people'), kilo jabuka ('a kilo of apples'). With a mass noun you use the genitive singular (malo soli), with countable things the genitive plural (mnogo knjiga). This is the partitive genitive — the part-of-a-whole meaning — and it also previews the rule that 5 and higher take the genitive plural.

Key rule

After quantity words (malo, mnogo) and measures (čaša, kilo) the measured noun goes in the genitive: čaša vode, mnogo ljudi.

Examples

  • čaša vode
    čaša voda

    After the measure word čaša the substance goes in the genitive: vode, not the nominative voda.

  • malo mleka
    malo mleko

    After malo a mass noun takes the genitive: mleka, not the accusative/nominative mleko.

  • mnogo ljudi
    mnogo ljude

    After mnogo a count noun takes the genitive plural: ljudi, not the accusative ljude.

Common mistakes

  • Nominative after a measure word

    čaša voda
    čaša vode

    The measured substance after čaša goes in the genitive: vode.

  • Accusative mass noun after malo

    Daj mi malo mleko.
    Daj mi malo mleka.

    After malo a mass noun takes the genitive singular: mleka.

A1Cases

Overview of the Seven Cases (N G D A V L I)

Pregled sedam padeža

Serbian nouns change their endings depending on their role in the sentence. There are seven cases (padeži): nominativ (subject), genitiv (of/possession, negation, after many prepositions), dativ (to/for, the recipient), akuzativ (direct object), vokativ (calling/addressing someone), lokativ (place, always after a preposition), and instrumental (with/by means of). A handy memory order is N–G–D–A–V–L–I. Each case answers a question word: ko/šta? (N), koga/čega? (G), kome/čemu? (D), koga/šta? (A), the calling form (V), o kome/o čemu? (L), kim/čim? (I). You have already met the nominative, accusative and genitive; this overview shows the whole grid so the rest fit into place.

Key rule

Serbian has seven cases (N G D A V L I), each with its own question word and core function; the noun ending shows the role.

Examples

  • Dečak čita knjigu.
    Dečaka čita knjiga.

    Subject in the nominative (dečak), object in the accusative (knjigu) — the cases mark who does what.

  • Dajem knjigu sestri.
    Dajem knjigu sestru.

    The recipient is dative: sestri; sestru would be the accusative object.

  • Knjiga je u školi.
    Knjiga je u školu.

    Static location after u is locative: u školi; u školu (accusative) would mean motion 'into school'.

Common mistakes

  • Using accusative for the recipient

    Dajem knjigu sestru.
    Dajem knjigu sestri.

    The recipient (indirect object) is dative: sestri, while the thing given is accusative.

  • Locative vs accusative confusion with u/na

    Sam u školu.
    Sam u školi.

    Static location takes the locative after u: u školi; the accusative u školu signals motion.

A1Cases

Dative — Recipient / Indirect Object

Dativ — primalac

The dative is the case of the recipient — the person or thing to whom or for whom something is given, said, or done. It answers the question kome? (to whom?). In English we often add the word 'to': I give the book to my sister. Serbian shows this relationship with an ending instead of a separate word. Masculine and neuter nouns usually take -u (bratu, detetu), and feminine nouns ending in -a usually take -i (sestri, ženi). The dative noun is the indirect object: in Dajem knjigu sestri, the book (knjigu) is the direct object and the sister (sestri) is the recipient. You will meet the dative again with verbs like reći (to tell), pomoći (to help), and pisati (to write to).

Key rule

The dative marks the recipient/indirect object (kome?): masc/neut nouns take -u, feminine -a nouns take -i.

Examples

  • Dajem knjigu sestri.
    Dajem knjigu sestra.

    The sister is the recipient, so she must be in the dative (sestri), not the nominative.

  • Pišem pismo prijatelju.
    Pišem pismo prijatelja.

    Writing to a friend needs the dative prijatelju; prijatelja is the genitive/accusative form.

  • Kažem istinu bratu.
    Kažem istinu brat.

    The brother receives the telling, so the dative bratu is required, not the bare nominative.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the recipient in the nominative

    Dajem loptu dečak.
    Dajem loptu dečaku.

    The recipient must be in the dative; masculine nouns take -u, so dečaku.

  • Forgetting k→c before feminine -i

    Pišem majki.
    Pišem majci.

    Feminine nouns in -ka soften k to c before the dative -i: majka → majci.

A1Cases

Dative — Experiencer

Dativ — doživljavač

Serbian often expresses feelings and states with an impersonal construction: instead of saying 'I am cold,' Serbian says Hladno mi je — literally 'cold to-me is.' The person who feels something is in the dative, usually as a short clitic pronoun: mi (to me), ti (to you), mu (to him), joj (to her), nam (to us), vam (to you all), im (to them). There is no subject 'I'; the verb je just sits there. You use this for temperature, mood, and reactions: Hladno mi je (I'm cold), Drago mi je (I'm glad / Nice to meet you), Muka mi je (I feel sick), Žao mi je (I'm sorry). The little pronoun goes in the second position of the sentence.

Key rule

Feelings and states are impersonal: the experiencer goes in the dative (mi, ti, mu, joj…) and the verb is je, with no nominative subject.

Examples

  • Hladno mi je.
    Ja sam hladno.

    Serbian uses the impersonal dative (mi je), not a nominative subject + biti the way English does.

  • Drago mi je.
    Ja sam drago.

    'I'm pleased / nice to meet you' is impersonal: drago mi je, never ja sam drago.

  • Žao mi je.
    Ja žalim je.

    The fixed expression is žao mi je with a dative experiencer, not a personal verb form.

Common mistakes

  • Using a nominative subject and biti like English

    Ja sam hladno.
    Hladno mi je.

    These states are impersonal in Serbian: the experiencer is dative (mi) and the verb is je.

  • Using the full dative pronoun where the clitic is needed

    Hladno meni je.
    Hladno mi je.

    The neutral form uses the clitic mi in second position; meni is only for contrast and would change the word order.

A1Cases

Locative — Place (u, na, o + Locative)

Lokativ — mesto uz predlog

The locative is special: it never appears alone. It always follows a preposition. Its main job is to say where something is (static location) and what something is about. The key prepositions are u (in), na (on/at), and o (about). Idem u školu means 'I go to school' (motion, accusative), but Ja sam u školi means 'I am in school' (location, locative). The same u takes the accusative for motion and the locative for place. The locative answers gde? (where?) for place and o kome? / o čemu? (about whom/what?) for topics. Endings are similar to the dative: masculine and neuter take -u, feminine -a nouns take -i.

Key rule

The locative never stands alone — it always follows a preposition (u, na, o) and marks static place (gde?) or topic (o čemu?).

Examples

  • Knjiga je na stolu.
    Knjiga je na sto.

    Static location after na takes the locative stolu, not the accusative sto.

  • Mi smo u školi.
    Mi smo u školu.

    'We are in school' is a location, so the locative školi; u školu (accusative) is for motion toward.

  • Govorimo o filmu.
    Govorimo o film.

    The preposition o requires the locative filmu, never the bare nominative film.

Common mistakes

  • Using the accusative for static location

    Ja sam u grad.
    Ja sam u gradu.

    Being in a place is static, so u takes the locative gradu, not the accusative grad.

  • Using the locative without a preposition

    Sedim kući.
    Sedim u kući.

    The locative cannot stand alone; it needs a preposition like u.

A1Cases

Locative — Formation (-u, -i endings)

Lokativ — građenje

Now we look at how locative endings are built. The good news: in the singular, the locative usually looks exactly like the dative. Masculine and neuter nouns take -u (grad → gradu, selo → selu, prozor → prozoru). Feminine nouns ending in -a take -i (žena → ženi, škola → školi). One important sound change: when a feminine noun ends in -ka, -ga, or -ha, the k/g/h softens before the -i — this is called sibilarization: ruka → ruci, knjiga → knjizi, snaha → snasi. Remember that the locative never appears without a preposition (u, na, o), so you always build these endings inside a phrase like na ruci or u knjizi.

Key rule

Locative singular = dative singular: masc/neut -u, fem -a nouns -i, with k/g/h softening before -i (ruka → ruci).

Examples

  • Prsten je na ruci.
    Prsten je na ruki.

    Ruka softens k to c before the locative -i: ruci, not ruki.

  • Pišem o knjizi.
    Pišem o knjigi.

    Knjiga softens g to z before -i: knjizi, not knjigi.

  • Sedimo u sobi.
    Sedimo u soba.

    The feminine locative ending is -i: soba → sobi, not the nominative soba.

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting sibilarization (k→c)

    na ruki
    na ruci

    Feminine nouns in -ka soften k to c before the locative -i: ruka → ruci.

  • Forgetting sibilarization (g→z)

    o knjigi
    o knjizi

    Feminine nouns in -ga soften g to z before -i: knjiga → knjizi.

A1Cases

Instrumental — Means & Company

Instrumental — sredstvo i društvo

The instrumental has two main jobs. First, it shows the tool or means you use to do something — and here there is NO preposition: Pišem olovkom (I write with a pencil), Putujem vozom (I travel by train), Sečem nožem (I cut with a knife). English uses 'with' or 'by,' but Serbian just puts the noun in the instrumental. Second, it shows company — the person you are with — and here you DO use the preposition s/sa: Idem sa sestrom (I go with my sister), Pričam s bratom (I talk with my brother). So remember the contrast: tool = instrumental alone; person = sa + instrumental. The question words are čime? (with what?) and s kim? (with whom?).

Key rule

Means/tool = bare instrumental with NO preposition (olovkom); company = s/sa + instrumental (sa sestrom).

Examples

  • Pišem olovkom.
    Pišem sa olovkom.

    A tool takes the bare instrumental with no preposition; sa is wrong for an instrument.

  • Putujem vozom.
    Putujem voz.

    'By train' is the bare instrumental vozom, not the nominative/accusative voz.

  • Idem sa sestrom.
    Idem sestrom.

    Accompaniment needs the preposition sa: sa sestrom, not the bare instrumental.

Common mistakes

  • Adding sa before a tool

    Pišem sa olovkom.
    Pišem olovkom.

    The means/instrument takes the bare instrumental; sa is only for company.

  • Leaving the tool in the nominative

    Putujem voz.
    Putujem vozom.

    By a means of transport you use the instrumental: voz → vozom.

A1Cases

Instrumental — Formation (-om / -em after soft)

Instrumental — građenje

Now we build the instrumental endings. Masculine and neuter nouns take -om after a hard consonant (grad → gradom, selo → selom, sto → stolom) but -em after a soft consonant such as j, č, ć, š, ž, dž, đ, lj, nj (nož → nožem, muž → mužem, prijatelj → prijateljem). Feminine nouns ending in -a take -om (žena → ženom, sestra → sestrom, škola → školom). So the choice for masculine and neuter is simple: hard ending → -om, soft ending → -em. Feminine -a nouns are always -om. Remember that for a tool you use this ending alone, and for a person you put s/sa in front.

Key rule

Masc/neut take -om after a hard consonant, -em after a soft one (nož → nožem); feminine -a nouns always take -om.

Examples

  • Sečem hleb nožem.
    Sečem hleb nožom.

    Nož ends in the soft consonant ž, so the instrumental is -em: nožem, not nožom.

  • Putujem gradom.
    Putujem gradem.

    Grad ends in a hard consonant, so the ending is -om: gradom, not gradem.

  • Idem sa sestrom.
    Idem sa sestrem.

    Feminine -a nouns always take -om: sestrom, not sestrem.

Common mistakes

  • Using -om after a soft consonant

    nožom
    nožem

    After soft consonants (j, č, ć, š, ž, lj, nj…) the instrumental ending is -em: nožem.

  • Using -em after a hard consonant

    gradem
    gradom

    After hard consonants the ending is -om: gradom, not gradem.

A1Cases

Vocative — Formation

Vokativ — građenje

The vocative is the case you use to call or address someone directly — like saying a person's name to get their attention. In Serbian it is alive and you really must use it. Masculine nouns usually take -e (Ivan → Ivane!, prijatelj → prijatelju! with -u after soft consonants), and after k/g/h there is a sound change (Bog → Bože!, vuk → vuče!). Feminine nouns in -a take -o (sestra → sestro!, žena → ženo!) or -e for affectionate/foreign names (Marica → Marice!). Neuter nouns and most plurals look the same as the nominative (dete → dete!, deco! from deca). Learn the common patterns and a few set forms like Bože and čoveče.

Key rule

The vocative is the address form: masc -e (k/g/h → č/ž/š: Bože) or -u after soft stems; fem -a nouns → -o (sestro) or -e for pet/foreign names; neuter = nominative.

Examples

  • Ivane, dođi ovamo!
    Ivan, dođi ovamo!

    Direct address needs the vocative Ivane, not the nominative Ivan.

  • Sestro, gde si?
    Sestra, gde si?

    Feminine -a noun takes the vocative -o: sestro, not the nominative sestra.

  • Bože, pomozi mi!
    Bog, pomozi mi!

    Bog palatalizes g to ž before the vocative -e: Bože, not Bog.

Common mistakes

  • Using the nominative to address someone

    Ivan, dođi!
    Ivane, dođi!

    Direct address requires the vocative; masculine names take -e: Ivane.

  • Forgetting palatalization with k/g/h

    Bog, pomozi!
    Bože, pomozi!

    Before the vocative -e, g/k/h soften: Bog → Bože, vuk → vuče.

A1Cases

Vocative — Use in Address & Greetings

Vokativ — obraćanje

Now that you know how to build the vocative, here is when to use it. You use it whenever you call someone, greet them by name, or start a letter to them. In speech: Marko, dođi! (Marko, come!), Ivane, kako si? (Ivan, how are you?). In greetings and politeness: Dobar dan, gospodine! (Good day, sir!), Izvinite, gospođo (Excuse me, madam). In letters the opening name is in the vocative: Draga Ana, … or Poštovani gospodine, …. The vocative is always separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. With set greetings the vocative often pairs with words like gospodine, gospođo, profesore, doktore.

Key rule

Use the vocative whenever you call, greet, or write to someone by name or title, always set off by a comma.

Examples

  • Dobar dan, gospodine!
    Dobar dan, gospodin!

    Greeting a man directly needs the vocative gospodine, not the nominative gospodin.

  • Marko, dođi na večeru!
    Marko dođi na večeru!

    The vocative must be set off by a comma: Marko, dođi.

  • Izvinite, gospođo, gde je apoteka?
    Izvinite, gospođa, gde je apoteka?

    Polite address uses the vocative gospođo, not the nominative gospođa.

Common mistakes

  • Using the nominative in a polite greeting

    Dobar dan, gospodin!
    Dobar dan, gospodine!

    Addressing someone directly requires the vocative: gospodine.

  • Omitting the comma after the vocative

    Marko dođi!
    Marko, dođi!

    The vocative is always separated from the sentence by a comma.

A1Orthography

The Serbian Latin Alphabet (latinica, 30 graphemes)

Srpska latinica — abeceda

Serbian Latin script (latinica) has 30 letters, and the system is almost perfectly phonetic: you write what you hear and read what you see, one letter for one sound. There are no silent letters and no surprising spellings the way English has. Five of the letters carry small marks (č, ć, dž, đ, š, ž) and three of them are written with two characters but count as a single sound (lj, nj, dž). Once you learn how each letter sounds, you can read any Serbian word aloud correctly, even if you do not know what it means. This makes Serbian reading much easier than English for beginners.

Key rule

Serbian Latin has 30 letters and is phonemic — one letter, one sound; write what you hear and read what you see.

Examples

  • Jovan čita knjigu.
    Yovan čita knjigu.

    The sound 'y' is written with the letter j, not with the English 'y'.

  • Cena je visoka.
    Sena je visoka.

    The letter c is always pronounced 'ts', so 'cena' (price) cannot be spelled with s.

  • Hvala na pomoći.
    Vala na pomoći.

    The letter h is always written and pronounced; it is never silent.

Common mistakes

  • Spelling the y-sound with English 'y'

    Maya, yutro
    Maja, jutro

    Serbian writes the y-sound with the letter j; the letter y does not exist in latinica.

  • Reading c as English k or s

    pronouncing 'centar' as 'kentar'
    centar (izgovor: 'tsentar')

    The letter c is always 'ts', never k or s.

A1Orthography

The Special Letters č ć dž đ š ž

Slova č, ć, dž, đ, š, ž

Serbian Latin has six letters with little marks above them: č, ć, dž, đ, š and ž. Each one stands for a single sound that English usually writes with two letters. š is the 'sh' in 'ship', ž is the 's' in 'pleasure', č is the hard 'ch' in 'church', ć is a softer 'ch' (like a gentle 'tch'), dž is the 'j' in 'jam', and đ is a softer version of that 'j'. The marks are not decoration: leaving them off changes or destroys the word. 'Cas' is not a word, but 'čas' (lesson/moment) is. Always write the diacritics.

Key rule

č ć dž đ š ž each spell one sound; the diacritics are obligatory — omitting them changes or destroys the word.

Examples

  • Idem na čas srpskog.
    Idem na cas srpskog.

    Without the mark, 'cas' is not a Serbian word; 'čas' means lesson/class.

  • Imam novac u džepu.
    Imam novac u dzepu.

    The single letter dž must keep its mark; 'dzep' is wrong, 'džep' (pocket) is correct.

  • Šta radiš danas?
    Sta radiš danas?

    š ('sh') is a separate letter from s; 'Sta' is misspelled.

Common mistakes

  • Dropping all diacritics in writing

    Sta radis, zelis li caj?
    Šta radiš, želiš li čaj?

    Diacritics are obligatory in correct Serbian; dropping them is acceptable only in very casual messaging.

  • Writing đ as the sequence dj

    Djordje, djak
    Đorđe, đak

    đ is a single letter; the digraph dj is a substitute used only when diacritics are unavailable.

A1Orthography

The Digraphs lj, nj, dž (one sound, two letters)

Dvoslovi lj, nj, dž

Three Serbian 'letters' are written with two characters but stand for a single sound: lj, nj and dž. lj is a soft 'l' like the 'lli' in 'million'; nj is a soft 'n' like the 'ny' in 'canyon'; dž is the hard 'j' in 'jam'. Because each is really one sound, you do not split it across syllables and you treat it as one letter. So 'ljudi' (people) begins with a single sound, and 'njega' (him) too. The danger is reading lj as two separate sounds, l + j, which sounds foreign and can even change the word.

Key rule

lj, nj and dž are single sounds written with two characters — never split them or read them as two separate sounds.

Examples

  • Ljudi idu na posao.
    L-judi idu na posao.

    lj is one sound; it is not read as l followed by j.

  • Volim njega.
    Volim njega kao n-jega.

    nj is a single palatal sound, like Spanish ñ, not n + j.

  • Novac je u džepu.
    Novac je u d-žepu.

    dž is one sound (the 'j' in jam); the two characters stay together.

Common mistakes

  • Reading lj/nj as two separate sounds

    pronouncing 'ljudi' as 'l-judi'
    ljudi (single soft l-sound)

    lj and nj are one palatal sound each, not a sequence of two consonants.

  • Dropping the j and writing plain l or n

    lubav, kon, negov
    ljubav, konj, njegov

    The j is part of the single letter; without it the sound and the word change.

A1Orthography

Distinguishing č and ć (hard vs soft)

Razlika č i ć

č and ć are two different letters that both sound a bit like English 'ch', but they are not the same. č is the hard one: the tongue is pulled back, like the strong 'ch' in 'church'. ć is the soft one: the tongue is forward near the front teeth, a gentler 'tch', a little like the 't' in 'tube' for many English speakers. The difference is real and changes meaning: 'čaša' (glass) vs 'ćaska' chat-style words, and 'kuća' (house) vs the non-word 'kuča'. Writing one for the other is a spelling mistake, so learn which words take which.

Key rule

č is hard (tongue back) and ć is soft (tongue forward) — they are different letters, and swapping them misspells the word.

Examples

  • Ovo je moja kuća.
    Ovo je moja kuča.

    'House' has soft ć; 'kuča' with hard č is not a word.

  • Pijem iz čaše.
    Pijem iz ćaše.

    'Glass' has hard č; soft ć would be wrong here.

  • Laku noć!
    Laku noč!

    'Night' ends in soft ć; the hard č spelling is incorrect.

Common mistakes

  • Writing surnames in -ić with č

    Jovanovič, Petrovič
    Jovanović, Petrović

    The Serbian patronymic suffix is -ić with soft ć, never hard č.

  • Spelling 'night' with hard č

    laku noč
    laku noć

    'Noć' ends in soft ć; this is one of the most frequent ć words.

A1Orthography

Serbian Digraphia: Cyrillic is the Official Script

Ćirilica i latinica — dvojako pismo

Serbian is written in two alphabets at the same time: Cyrillic (ćirilica) and Latin (latinica). The two map onto each other one-to-one — every Latin letter has exactly one Cyrillic partner and the other way round — so the same word can be written in either script with no change in meaning. Cyrillic is the official, constitutionally primary script (you see it on documents, money and many signs), while Latin is used everywhere too, especially online and in advertising. In this course we write in Latin because it is easier for most learners, but you should know that Cyrillic is official and you will meet it constantly in Serbia.

Key rule

Serbian uses two equivalent alphabets — Cyrillic (official) and Latin — in a strict 1:1 mapping; we write Latin, but Cyrillic is everywhere.

Examples

  • Srpski se piše i ćirilicom i latinicom.
    Srpski se piše samo latinicom.

    Serbian is written in both scripts, not Latin only; that is the core fact.

  • Ćirilica je službeno pismo.
    Latinica je jedino službeno pismo.

    Cyrillic is the official script; Latin is widely used but not the sole official one.

  • Ova dva pisma su potpuno ravnopravna.
    Ova dva pisma imaju različito značenje.

    The two scripts are equivalent: the same word means the same in either.

Common mistakes

  • Believing Serbian uses only Latin

    thinking 'Srbi pišu samo latinicom'
    Srbi pišu i ćirilicom i latinicom

    Serbian is digraphic; both scripts are in everyday use.

  • Calling Latin the official script

    Latinica je službeno pismo
    Ćirilica je službeno pismo

    The constitution makes Cyrillic the primary official script, though Latin is fully accepted.

A1Orthography

Ekavian: the jat Reflex is e (with -eo/-ela & i-before-j)

Ekavski izgovor — refleks jata

Standard Serbian as taught here is Ekavian, which means an old vowel called 'jat' simply comes out as e. So you say and write dete (child), mleko (milk), vreme (time), lep (beautiful) and videti (to see) — always with e. There are two small things to remember. First, in past-tense male/neuter forms the verb ends in -eo, not flat e: video (saw), voleo (loved), živeo (lived). Second, before the letter j the sound becomes i, not e: smejati se → smejao, sijati. You may also see forms like dijete or mlijeko — those are the western (Ijekavian) variant, not standard Serbian here.

Key rule

In Ekavian Serbian jat is written e (dete, mleko, lep), EXCEPT l-participles end -eo/-ela (video, voleo) and jat becomes i before j (smejao, sijati).

Examples

  • Dete pije mleko.
    Dijete pije mlijeko.

    Ekavian uses e: 'dete', 'mleko'; the ije forms are Ijekavian, not standard Serbian here.

  • Vreme je lepo danas.
    Vrijeme je lijepo danas.

    'Vreme' and 'lepo' take e in Ekavian; 'vrijeme/lijepo' are the western variant.

  • Juče sam video film.
    Juče sam veo film.

    The l-participle of 'videti' is 'video', never a flat 'veo'.

Common mistakes

  • Using Ijekavian ije/je forms in standard Serbian

    dijete, mlijeko, vrijeme, lijep
    dete, mleko, vreme, lep

    Ekavian, the norm taught here, realises jat as e; the ije/je forms belong to the western variant.

  • Writing the l-participle as flat e

    Ja sam veo, on je vol
    Ja sam video, on je voleo

    The masculine l-participle of jat verbs ends in -eo: video, voleo, želeo.

A1Orthography

Sound-Change Preview: sibilarizacija & palatalizacija

Glasovne promene — uvod

In Serbian, the end of a word sometimes changes its last consonant when you add an ending. Two common changes start with the consonants k, g, h. In one change (sibilarizacija) they turn into c, z, s before the ending -i: junak → junaci (heroes), ruka → ruci (to/at the hand). In another (palatalizacija) they turn into č, ž, š before some other endings: junak → junače (vocative), bog → bože. You do not need to produce these perfectly yet — for now just recognise that the stem can change, so 'ruka' and 'ruci' are forms of the same word. You will drill these later.

Key rule

Stems in k, g, h regularly change before endings: → c, z, s (sibilarizacija: ruka→ruci) or → č, ž, š (palatalizacija: junak→junače).

Examples

  • Junaci su hrabri.
    Junaki su hrabri.

    Plural of 'junak' is 'junaci' (k → c before -i), not 'junaki'.

  • Knjiga je na polici.
    Knjiga je na poliki.

    Locative of 'polica'-type/'ruka'-type: k → c, here 'polici'.

  • Dajem loptu deci.
    Dajem loptu deki.

    Sibilarisation gives the right form; the foil keeps the velar wrongly.

Common mistakes

  • Keeping k/g/h before -i in the plural

    junaki, vojniki
    junaci, vojnici

    Sibilarisation changes k → c before -i in the masculine nominative plural.

  • Keeping the velar in the feminine dative/locative

    na ruki, u knjigi
    na ruci, u knjizi

    Feminine -a nouns with k/g change to c/z before the dative/locative -i.

A1Orthography

Capitalisation (lower-case days, months, nationalities adj.)

Veliko i malo slovo — osnove

Serbian uses capital letters for the first word of a sentence and for proper names: people (Marko, Ana), cities and countries (Beograd, Srbija), rivers and mountains. But several things that English capitalises stay lower-case in Serbian: the days of the week (ponedeljak, subota), the months (januar, decembar), and the adjective of nationality or language (srpski, engleski). The noun for a people is capitalised (Srbin, Englez), but the adjective is not (srpski jezik). In polite letters you may capitalise Vi/Vam out of respect. Serbian stress is not written, so capitalisation only marks sentences and names.

Key rule

Capitalise sentence starts and proper names; days, months, and nationality/language adjectives (ponedeljak, januar, srpski) stay lower-case.

Examples

  • U ponedeljak idem na posao.
    U Ponedeljak idem na posao.

    Days of the week are lower-case in Serbian.

  • Rođen sam u avgustu.
    Rođen sam u Avgustu.

    Month names are lower-case.

  • Učim srpski jezik.
    Učim Srpski jezik.

    The language/nationality adjective 'srpski' is lower-case.

Common mistakes

  • Capitalising days of the week

    U Subotu se odmaram.
    U subotu se odmaram.

    Unlike English, Serbian writes weekday names in lower case.

  • Capitalising month names

    Volim Decembar.
    Volim decembar.

    Months are common nouns in Serbian and stay lower-case.

A1Prepositions

u / na — Accusative (motion) vs Locative (location)

Predlozi u i na — akuzativ ili lokativ

The little words 'u' (in/to) and 'na' (on/to) change the case of the noun depending on whether you are moving somewhere or already there. If you are going TO a place — answering 'where to?' — the noun goes in the accusative: 'Idem u školu' (I'm going to school). If you are AT a place, not moving — answering 'where?' — the noun goes in the locative: 'Ja sam u školi' (I'm at school). The same preposition, two cases. 'u' is usually for enclosed places and towns; 'na' is for surfaces, open areas, events, and certain fixed expressions.

Key rule

Motion toward a goal → u/na + accusative (Idem u školu); static location → u/na + locative (Sam u školi).

Examples

  • Idem u školu.
    Idem u školi.

    Motion toward a goal needs the accusative (školu), not the locative.

  • Ja sam u školi.
    Ja sam u školu.

    Being somewhere (no movement) needs the locative (školi), not the accusative.

  • Stavljam knjigu na sto.
    Stavljam knjigu na stolu.

    Putting something onto a surface is motion, so 'na' takes the accusative 'sto'.

Common mistakes

  • Using locative after a motion verb

    Idem u školi.
    Idem u školu.

    Verbs of motion (idem, putujem) require the accusative to mark the goal.

  • Using accusative after a state verb

    Radim u kancelariju.
    Radim u kancelariji.

    Static location with 'radim' (I work) needs the locative.

A1Prepositions

s / sa + Instrumental (with / accompaniment)

Predlog s/sa + instrumental

To say you do something together WITH a person, use 's' (or 'sa') followed by the instrumental case: 'Idem sa bratom' (I'm going with my brother), 'Pijem kafu s prijateljem' (I drink coffee with a friend). The form 'sa' is used before words starting with s, z, š, ž (and other tricky clusters) so the words don't run together: 'sa sestrom', 'sa Žarkom'. Otherwise both 's' and 'sa' are fine. Important: when 'with' means a TOOL or means ('I write with a pen'), Serbian uses the bare instrumental with NO preposition: 'Pišem olovkom'.

Key rule

Use s/sa + instrumental for company (sa bratom); use the bare instrumental with NO preposition for a tool or means (pišem olovkom). Use 'sa' before s, z, š, ž and 'sa mnom'.

Examples

  • Idem u bioskop sa bratom.
    Idem u bioskop sa brat.

    Accompaniment needs the instrumental form 'bratom', not the nominative.

  • Pijem kafu s prijateljem.
    Pijem kafu s prijatelj.

    Soft-stem masculine takes -em: prijateljem.

  • Razgovaram sa sestrom.
    Razgovaram s sestrom.

    Before a word starting with 's', use 'sa' so the two s-sounds don't merge.

Common mistakes

  • Adding s/sa to a tool or means

    Pišem sa olovkom.
    Pišem olovkom.

    Instrument/means takes the bare instrumental with no preposition; 's/sa' is only for company.

  • Using 's' before an s/z/š/ž word

    s sestrom
    sa sestrom

    Before sibilants and clusters, 'sa' is used so the words stay pronounceable.

A1Prepositions

od / do / iz + Genitive (from / to / out of)

Predlozi od, do, iz + genitiv

Three very common prepositions all take the genitive case and describe source and goal of movement. 'od' = from (a starting point or a person): 'od kuće' (from home), 'pismo od brata' (a letter from my brother). 'do' = up to / as far as / to (a destination): 'do škole' (to school), 'od jedan do pet' (from one to five). 'iz' = out of / from inside (and from countries and towns): 'iz Srbije' (from Serbia), 'izlazim iz sobe' (I come out of the room). A classic pair is 'od ... do ...' (from ... to ...): 'od kuće do škole'. All three force the noun into the genitive.

Key rule

od (from a point/person), do (up to/as far as), and iz (out of/from inside) all govern the genitive (-a / -e); the frame 'od ... do ...' pairs source and goal.

Examples

  • Idem od kuće do škole.
    Idem od kuća do škola.

    Both nouns must be genitive: kuće, škole (feminine -e), not nominative.

  • Dobio sam pismo od brata.
    Dobio sam pismo od brat.

    'od' (from a person) takes the genitive 'brata'.

  • Ona je iz Srbije.
    Ona je iz Srbija.

    'iz' (origin) takes the genitive; feminine 'Srbija' → 'Srbije'.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the noun in the nominative after od/do/iz

    Idem do škola.
    Idem do škole.

    These prepositions govern the genitive: feminine -e (škole).

  • Confusing 'iz' and 'od' for places vs people

    Dobio sam poklon iz majke.
    Dobio sam poklon od majke.

    A gift comes 'od' (from) a person; 'iz' means out of an enclosed space/origin.

A1Prepositions

kod + Genitive (at someone's place / by)

Predlog kod + genitiv

'kod' + genitive is the Serbian way to say 'at someone's place' or 'at the X's' — like French 'chez'. 'kod lekara' (at the doctor's), 'kod prijatelja' (at a friend's place), 'kod kuće' (at home). It marks static location near a person or place. It is also used for being 'with/by' a person in the sense of in their presence or their home. Important: 'kod' means being THERE (static); to express going to someone, Serbian usually still uses 'kod' with verbs of motion in everyday speech ('Idem kod lekara' = I'm going to the doctor's), and the noun always stays in the genitive.

Key rule

kod + genitive means 'at/to someone's place' or 'by/near' (kod lekara, kod kuće, kod tebe); the noun and pronoun always take the genitive.

Examples

  • Danas sam kod lekara.
    Danas sam kod lekar.

    'kod' takes the genitive 'lekara', not the nominative.

  • Ostajem kod kuće.
    Ostajem kod kuća.

    Fixed expression 'kod kuće' = at home; genitive singular 'kuće'.

  • Idem kod prijatelja.
    Idem kod prijatelj.

    Even with a motion verb, 'kod' keeps the genitive 'prijatelja'.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the noun in the nominative after 'kod'

    Idem kod lekar.
    Idem kod lekara.

    'kod' always governs the genitive (lekara).

  • Using a nominative pronoun

    Dolazim kod ti.
    Dolazim kod tebe.

    Pronouns after 'kod' take the genitive: mene, tebe, njega, nje, nas, vas, njih.

A1Prepositions

ka / k + Dative (towards)

Predlog ka + dativ

To say you move TOWARDS something (in its direction, not necessarily reaching it), use 'ka' followed by the dative case: 'Idem ka centru' (I'm walking towards the center), 'Brod plovi ka moru' (The ship sails towards the sea). In Serbian the longer form 'ka' is the normal choice; the short form 'k' exists but is rare and mostly literary, so just use 'ka'. The form 'ka' is also handy before words that start with k or g. The dative endings are -u for masculine and neuter (centru, moru) and -i for feminine (kući, školi).

Key rule

ka (preferred over the rare 'k') + dative expresses direction towards something (ka centru, ka moru); masculine/neuter -u, feminine -i.

Examples

  • Idem ka centru.
    Idem ka centar.

    'ka' takes the dative 'centru', not the nominative.

  • Brod plovi ka moru.
    Brod plovi ka more.

    Neuter dative is 'moru' (-u), not the nominative 'more'.

  • Okrenula se ka meni.
    Okrenula se ka mene.

    The pronoun must be the dative 'meni', not the genitive/accusative 'mene'.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the noun in the nominative after 'ka'

    Idem ka centar.
    Idem ka centru.

    'ka' governs the dative: masculine -u (centru).

  • Using the rare bare 'k' instead of 'ka'

    k moru
    ka moru

    Standard Serbian prefers the full form 'ka'; plain 'k' is archaic/literary.

A1Prepositions

o + Locative (about / concerning)

Predlog o + lokativ

To talk or think ABOUT a topic, use the small preposition 'o' followed by the locative case: 'Govorimo o filmu' (We talk about the film), 'Mislim o tebi' (I think about you), 'Pišem o moru' (I write about the sea). It answers the question 'o čemu?' (about what?) or 'o kome?' (about whom?). The locative endings are -u for masculine and neuter (filmu, moru) and -i for feminine (knjizi, with the k→z change). Pronouns take their locative forms: o meni, o tebi, o njemu, o njoj, o nama, o vama, o njima.

Key rule

o + locative introduces a topic — what you talk/think/write about (o filmu, o tebi); masculine/neuter -u, feminine -i (with sibilarization).

Examples

  • Govorimo o filmu.
    Govorimo o film.

    'o' takes the locative 'filmu', not the nominative.

  • Mislim o tebi.
    Mislim o ti.

    The pronoun must be the locative 'tebi', not the nominative 'ti'.

  • Ovo je knjiga o ratu.
    Ovo je knjiga o rat.

    Topic of the book → locative 'ratu'.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the noun in the nominative after 'o'

    Govorimo o film.
    Govorimo o filmu.

    'o' governs the locative: masculine/neuter -u (filmu).

  • Using a nominative pronoun

    Mislim o ti.
    Mislim o tebi.

    Pronouns after 'o' take the locative: meni, tebi, njemu, njoj, nama, vama, njima.

A1Prepositions

za + Accusative (for / beneficiary / purpose)

Predlog za + akuzativ

'za' + accusative is the everyday way to say FOR someone or FOR a purpose: 'Ovo je za tebe' (This is for you), 'Kupujem poklon za majku' (I'm buying a gift for my mother), 'Šta imaš za doručak?' (What do you have for breakfast?). It marks the beneficiary, recipient, or purpose. The accusative of feminine -a nouns ends in -u (majku), masculine inanimate stays like the nominative (doručak), and pronouns take their accusative forms: za mene, za tebe, za njega, za nju, za nas, za vas, za njih. Later you will also meet 'za' + genitive for time spans (za vreme rata = during the war), but at A1 focus on 'za' + accusative.

Key rule

za + accusative means 'for' — beneficiary, recipient, or purpose (za tebe, za majku, za doručak); feminine -a → -u, masculine animate takes the genitive form.

Examples

  • Ovo je za tebe.
    Ovo je za ti.

    The pronoun must be the accusative 'tebe', not the nominative 'ti'.

  • Kupujem poklon za majku.
    Kupujem poklon za majka.

    Feminine -a → -u in the accusative: majku.

  • Šta imaš za doručak?
    Šta imaš za doručka?

    Masculine inanimate accusative equals the nominative: doručak, not the genitive 'doručka'.

Common mistakes

  • Using a nominative pronoun after 'za'

    Ovo je za ti.
    Ovo je za tebe.

    'za' takes the accusative pronoun: mene, tebe, njega, nju, nas, vas, njih.

  • Not changing feminine -a to -u

    poklon za majka
    poklon za majku

    Feminine -a nouns end in -u in the accusative: majku.

A1Pronouns

Personal Pronouns — Nominative (ja, ti, on…)

Lične zamenice — nominativ

Serbian personal pronouns are the words for 'I, you, he, she, it, we, you (plural), they'. The nominative forms are ja (I), ti (you, one person you know), on (he), ona (she), ono (it), mi (we), vi (you, plural or polite), and oni / one / ona (they). Because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action, Serbian usually drops the pronoun: you say Radim, not Ja radim, for 'I work'. You add the pronoun only when you want emphasis or contrast — for example Ja radim, a ti spavaš ('I work, while you sleep'). The third-person plural has three forms by gender: oni (masculine or mixed), one (feminine), ona (neuter).

Key rule

The subject pronouns are ja, ti, on/ona/ono, mi, vi, oni/one/ona, but Serbian usually drops them because the verb ending already shows the person.

Examples

  • Ja sam student.
    Ja jesam student tu.

    Ja is the nominative 'I'; the simple copula is sam, and no extra word is needed.

  • Ti govoriš srpski.
    Ti govori srpski.

    With ti the verb takes the -š ending (govoriš), not the third-person govori.

  • On je moj brat.
    Ono je moj brat.

    A male person is on; ono is the neuter 'it', used for grammatically neuter nouns.

Common mistakes

  • Overusing the subject pronoun

    Ja idem, ja jedem, ja spavam.
    Idem, jedem, spavam.

    Serbian is pro-drop; the verb ending already shows 'I', so repeating ja sounds unnatural and emphatic.

  • Using on for a grammatically feminine noun

    Gde je knjiga? On je na stolu.
    Gde je knjiga? Ona je na stolu.

    Knjiga is feminine, so the pronoun is ona, not on, even though 'book' is 'it' in English.

A1Pronouns

Personal Pronouns — Full vs Clitic Object Forms (mene/me)

Lične zamenice — naglašeni i nenaglašeni oblici

When a personal pronoun is the object of a verb, Serbian has two versions: a short unstressed form (a clitic) and a long stressed form. The clitics are me, te, ga, je, nas, vas, ih — they are the everyday choice and sit in the second slot of the sentence: Vidim ga ('I see him'). The full forms are mene, tebe, njega, nju, nas, vas, njih — you use them for emphasis, after a preposition, or alone in an answer: Vidim NJEGA ('I see HIM, not someone else'); Za tebe ('for you'). So the same meaning has two shapes, and the choice depends on stress and position, not on grammar gender.

Key rule

Use the short clitic (me, te, ga, je…) by default in second position; use the long form (mene, tebe, njega…) for emphasis, after a preposition, or alone.

Examples

  • Vidim ga svaki dan.
    Vidim njega svaki dan.

    Without special emphasis the clitic ga is correct; the full njega here sounds unnaturally stressed.

  • Ovo je za mene.
    Ovo je za me.

    After a preposition only the full form is allowed: za mene, never the clitic me.

  • Ona te voli.
    Ona voli te.

    The clitic te must stand in second position, not after the verb at the end.

Common mistakes

  • Putting a clitic after a preposition

    Mislim na te.
    Mislim na tebe.

    Prepositions always govern the full stressed form (na tebe), never the clitic te.

  • Placing the clitic at the end of the clause

    Ja vidim ga.
    Ja ga vidim.

    The clitic must occupy the second position, so it comes right after the first stressed unit.

A1Pronouns

Possessive Pronouns (moj, tvoj, naš…) — Agreement

Prisvojne zamenice — moj, tvoj

Possessive pronouns say whose something is: moj (my), tvoj (your, singular), njegov (his), njen (her), naš (our), vaš (your, plural/polite), njihov (their). In Serbian they behave like adjectives — they must agree with the thing owned in gender, number, and case, not with the owner. So 'my' is moj brat (masc.), moja sestra (fem.), moje dete (neut.). The owner stays the same, but the ending changes with the noun: moja knjiga, but mog brata in the genitive. The third-person njegov / njen already shows the owner's gender by its stem, and then still agrees with the owned noun: njegova kuća, njena kuća.

Key rule

Possessives agree in gender, number and case with the thing owned, not with the owner: moj brat, moja sestra, moje dete, mog brata.

Examples

  • Ovo je moja knjiga.
    Ovo je moj knjiga.

    Knjiga is feminine, so the possessive must be moja, agreeing with the noun.

  • Tvoj brat je visok.
    Tvoja brat je visok.

    Brat is masculine, so 'your' is tvoj, not the feminine tvoja.

  • To je njegovo dete.
    To je njegov dete.

    Dete is neuter, so the possessive ends in -o: njegovo.

Common mistakes

  • Agreeing the possessive with the owner instead of the owned noun

    Marko ima njena auto.
    Marko ima njen auto.

    The possessive agrees with the owned noun auto (masc.), not with Marko; and 'his' would be njegov anyway.

  • Not declining the possessive in oblique cases

    Dajem knjigu moj bratu.
    Dajem knjigu mom bratu.

    In the dative the possessive declines to mom to match bratu.

A1Pronouns

The Reflexive Possessive svoj (one's own)

Povratno-prisvojna zamenica svoj

Serbian has a special possessive, svoj, meaning 'one's own' — it points back to the subject of the sentence. When the owner of a thing is the same person as the subject, you use svoj, not moj, tvoj, njegov, njen, etc. So 'I take my (own) book' is Uzimam svoju knjigu, and 'He loves his (own) wife' is Voli svoju ženu. If you instead say Voli njegovu ženu, it means he loves someone else's wife. Svoj agrees like an adjective with the thing owned: svoj brat, svoja sestra, svoje dete. It works for every person, so the same word covers 'my own, your own, his own, our own', as long as it refers to the subject.

Key rule

Use svoj (declined to agree with the owned noun) whenever the owner is the same as the subject; using njegov/njen there points to someone else.

Examples

  • On voli svoju ženu.
    On voli njegovu ženu.

    Svoju shows he loves his own wife; njegovu would mean another man's wife.

  • Uzimam svoju knjigu.
    Uzimam svoj knjigu.

    Knjiga is feminine accusative, so svoj must agree as svoju.

  • Ona čuva svoje dete.
    Ona čuva njeno dete.

    Since she guards her own child, svoje is required; njeno suggests someone else's child.

Common mistakes

  • Using njegov/njen for the subject's own possession

    Marko pere njegov auto.
    Marko pere svoj auto.

    Marko is the subject and owner, so the reflexive svoj is required; njegov points to a different man.

  • Making svoj the subject of the clause

    Svoj brat radi u banci.
    Moj brat radi u banci.

    Svoj can never be the subject; it only modifies a non-subject noun, so use moj here.

Lenguia Premium

Halfway there — imagine actually using all of this.

Lenguia's AI tutor explains any of these Serbian grammar topics in seconds and builds practice around the ones you get wrong.

Try for Just $1
A1Pronouns

Demonstratives ovaj / taj / onaj (this/that/yon)

Pokazne zamenice — ovaj, taj, onaj

Serbian points to things with three demonstratives, by distance. Ovaj is 'this' — near me, the speaker. Taj is 'that' — near you, the listener. Onaj is 'that one over there' — far from both of us. Each one changes for gender and number like an adjective: ovaj čovek (this man), ova žena (this woman), ovo dete (this child), ovi ljudi (these people). The neuter ovo / to / ono is also used on its own to point at a thing or situation: To je dobro ('That's good'), Šta je ovo? ('What is this?'). So you match the demonstrative to the noun's gender and number, and you pick ovaj / taj / onaj by how far the thing is.

Key rule

Pick ovaj (near me), taj (near you), or onaj (far away), and make it agree in gender, number, and case with the noun.

Examples

  • Ovaj čovek je moj komšija.
    Ova čovek je moj komšija.

    Čovek is masculine, so the proximal demonstrative is ovaj, not the feminine ova.

  • Daj mi tu knjigu.
    Daj mi taj knjigu.

    Knjiga is feminine accusative, so 'that' is ta → tu, agreeing with the noun.

  • Ono drvo je veoma staro.
    Onaj drvo je veoma staro.

    Drvo is neuter, so the distal demonstrative is ono, not masculine onaj.

Common mistakes

  • Not agreeing the demonstrative in gender

    ova auto
    ovaj auto

    Auto is masculine, so the demonstrative must be ovaj, not feminine ova.

  • Using the masculine form for a neuter noun

    Ovaj dete plače.
    Ovo dete plače.

    Dete is neuter, so the demonstrative is ovo.

A1Pronouns

Interrogatives ko (who) & šta (what)

Upitne zamenice — ko, šta

To ask 'who?' and 'what?' Serbian uses ko for people and šta for things. Ko pita? ('Who is asking?'), Šta radiš? ('What are you doing?'). Both change form for case: ko → koga (whom), kome (to whom); šta → čega (of what), čemu (to what). After a preposition you must use the case form, never the bare word: o kome (about whom), za šta (for what), s kim (with whom). Note that 'what?' in Serbian is šta, not the western što — što is used in Serbian only as a connector meaning 'that/which/because'. Ko always takes a singular masculine verb, even when the answer is plural or female.

Key rule

Use ko for people and šta for things (never Croatian što for 'what?'); both decline (koga, kome; čega, čemu) and take the case form after prepositions.

Examples

  • Šta radiš večeras?
    Što radiš večeras?

    In Serbian 'what?' is šta; što is only the conjunction 'that/because', not the question word.

  • Ko je ovo?
    Šta je ovo? — kažem za osobu.

    For a person you ask ko; šta is for things.

  • Koga tražiš?
    Ko tražiš?

    As a direct object 'whom' takes the accusative koga, not the nominative ko.

Common mistakes

  • Using Croatian što for 'what?'

    Što hoćeš?
    Šta hoćeš?

    The Serbian interrogative 'what?' is šta; što is only a conjunction in standard Serbian.

  • Not declining ko/šta after a preposition

    Za ko je ovo?
    Za koga je ovo?

    The preposition za governs the accusative, so 'who' becomes koga.

A1Pronouns

Interrogatives koji (which) & kakav (what kind)

Upitne zamenice — koji, kakav

Two more question words help you ask about things and qualities. Koji means 'which (one)' — it picks one out of a known set: Koji film gledamo? ('Which film are we watching?'). Kakav means 'what kind of / what … like' — it asks about quality or type: Kakav je film? ('What is the film like?'). Both work like adjectives and agree with their noun in gender and number: koji čovek, koja žena, koje dete; kakav grad, kakva kuća, kakvo vreme. They also decline for case: Koju knjigu čitaš? ('Which book are you reading?'). So use koji to choose from options and kakav to ask about characteristics.

Key rule

Use koji to ask 'which one (of a set)' and kakav to ask 'what kind / what … like'; both agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Examples

  • Koji film gledamo večeras?
    Kakav film gledamo večeras?

    Choosing one specific film from options needs koji; kakav would ask about its type.

  • Kakav je novi profesor?
    Koji je novi profesor?

    Asking what the professor is like (his qualities) needs kakav, not the selecting koji.

  • Koju knjigu čitaš?
    Koji knjigu čitaš?

    Knjiga is feminine accusative, so koji declines to koju.

Common mistakes

  • Using kakav when selecting from a set

    Kakav od ova dva hoćeš?
    Koji od ova dva hoćeš?

    Choosing one specific item from options requires koji; kakav asks about type.

  • Using koji to ask about quality

    Koji je tvoj grad — velik ili mali?
    Kakav je tvoj grad — velik ili mali?

    Asking what something is like (its quality) requires kakav.

A1Pronouns

Reflexive Pronoun se / sebe — Introduction

Povratna zamenica se / sebe

When the action of the verb comes back to the doer, Serbian uses one reflexive pronoun for all persons: se (short, unstressed) and sebe / sebi (long, stressed). The short se appears with many everyday verbs and sits in second position: Perem se ('I wash myself'), Zovem se Ana ('My name is Ana'). The long sebe / sebi is used for emphasis, after a preposition, or as a clear object: Mislim na sebe ('I think of myself'), Kupio je sebi knjigu ('He bought himself a book'). The key point is that one form works for I, you, he, we, they — there is no separate 'myself / yourself / himself'. You pick se vs sebe by stress and position, just like the other object pronouns.

Key rule

Use the one reflexive pronoun for all persons: clitic se in second position by default, stressed sebe/sebi for emphasis, after prepositions, or as a clear object.

Examples

  • Zovem se Marko.
    Zovem me Marko.

    'My name is' uses the reflexive se, not the object clitic me, because the action refers to the subject.

  • Ona se smeje.
    Ona smeje se.

    The reflexive clitic se must stand in second position, not after the verb.

  • Mislim na sebe.
    Mislim na se.

    After a preposition only the stressed form sebe is allowed, never the clitic se.

Common mistakes

  • Using a personal pronoun for the subject's own self

    On voli njega (meaning himself).
    On voli sebe.

    When subject and object are the same, Serbian requires the reflexive sebe, not njega.

  • Putting the clitic se after the verb

    Ja umivam se ujutru.
    Ja se umivam ujutru.

    The clitic se must occupy the second position, right after the first stressed unit.

A1Pronouns

Personal Pronouns — Dative Clitics (mi, ti, mu, joj)

Lične zamenice — dativ enklitike

To say 'to me, to you, to him, to her', Serbian most often uses short dative clitics: mi (to me), ti (to you), mu (to him/it), joj (to her), nam (to us), vam (to you, plural), im (to them). These tell you the recipient — the person who gets something or for whom something is true: Daj mi to ('Give me that'), Kaže mu ('She tells him'), Hladno mi je ('I am cold', literally 'it is cold to me'). Like the other clitics, they sit in second position. The stressed full forms (meni, tebi, njemu, njoj) are used for emphasis or after some words: Meni je hladno, a tebi nije ('I'm cold, but you're not').

Key rule

Use the dative clitics mi, ti, mu, joj, nam, vam, im in second position for the recipient or experiencer; use meni, tebi, njemu, njoj for emphasis or after prepositions.

Examples

  • Daj mi knjigu.
    Daj meni knjigu.

    Without emphasis the neutral recipient is the dative clitic mi, not the stressed meni.

  • Ana mu piše pismo.
    Ana piše mu pismo.

    The dative clitic mu must sit in second position, not after the verb.

  • Hladno mi je.
    Hladno ja je.

    The experiencer of an impersonal feeling is in the dative (mi), not the nominative ja.

Common mistakes

  • Using the full dative where a clitic is natural

    Daj meni hleb.
    Daj mi hleb.

    Without emphasis the everyday recipient is the clitic mi; meni is heavily stressed.

  • Placing the dative clitic after the verb

    On kaže mi istinu.
    On mi kaže istinu.

    The dative clitic must occupy the second position.

A1Register

ti vs vi (informal vs formal/plural address)

Persiranje — ti i vi

Serbian has two ways to say 'you'. Use 'ti' for one person you know well: a friend, a family member, a child, or someone your own age in a relaxed setting. Use 'vi' to address one person politely (a stranger, an older person, a boss, an official), and also as the plain plural 'you' for more than one person. The verb follows the pronoun: 'ti' takes the second-person singular ending, and 'vi' takes the second-person plural ending, even when you are politely addressing just one person. In letters and formal writing, the polite singular 'Vi' is often capitalised. Choosing the right form is a sign of respect, so when in doubt with an adult stranger, start with 'vi'.

Key rule

Use 'ti' + singular verb for one familiar person; use 'vi' + plural verb for several people OR for one person you address politely.

Examples

  • Kako se zoveš?
    Kako se zovete?

    Asking a friend or peer their name uses the familiar 'ti' form 'zoveš'.

  • Gospodine, kako se zovete?
    Gospodine, kako se zoveš?

    Addressing a stranger politely requires 'vi' and the plural verb 'zovete'.

  • Vi ste vrlo ljubazni.
    Vi si vrlo ljubazni.

    'Vi' always takes the plural auxiliary 'ste', never the singular 'si'.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing the singular pronoun with the plural verb

    Ti imate vremena?
    Ti imaš vremena?

    'Ti' must take a singular verb; 'imate' is the 'vi' form.

  • Using 'si' with the polite/plural 'vi'

    Vi si dobar čovek.
    Vi ste dobar čovek.

    'Vi' takes the plural auxiliary 'ste' even when addressing one person.

A1Register

Greetings (Zdravo, Ćao, Dobar dan, Doviđenja)

Pozdravi

Serbian greetings come in a casual set and a polite set. 'Zdravo' and 'ćao' are friendly hellos (and 'ćao' is also a casual bye) used with people you know. The polite, time-of-day greetings are 'dobro jutro' (good morning), 'dobar dan' (good day/afternoon), and 'dobro veče' (good evening) — safe with anyone. To say goodbye politely, use 'doviđenja'; for a warm 'take care' you can add 'prijatno'. At night you wish someone 'laku noć'. Match the greeting to the situation: with friends 'ćao' is perfect, but to a shopkeeper or an older person 'dobar dan' is the respectful choice. Greetings often go together with the address forms 'ti' and 'vi'.

Key rule

Use 'zdravo/ćao' with friends; use the time-of-day greetings 'dobro jutro / dobar dan / dobro veče' and 'doviđenja' with strangers and elders.

Examples

  • Dobar dan, izvolite?
    Dobar veče, izvolite?

    Daytime greeting is 'dobar dan'; in the evening it would be the neuter 'dobro veče', not 'dobar veče'.

  • Ćao, vidimo se sutra!
    Doviđenja, vidimo se sutra!

    With a close friend the casual 'ćao' fits; 'doviđenja' is the polite, more distant goodbye.

  • Dobro jutro, kako ste spavali?
    Dobar jutro, kako ste spavali?

    'Jutro' is neuter, so the adjective is 'dobro', not 'dobar'.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong adjective gender with 'veče'

    Dobar veče!
    Dobro veče!

    'Veče' is neuter, so the greeting is 'dobro veče'.

  • Wrong adjective gender with 'jutro'

    Dobar jutro!
    Dobro jutro!

    'Jutro' is neuter and takes 'dobro'.

A1Register

Politeness Words (molim, hvala, izvini / izvinite)

Učtive reči — molim, hvala, izvini

A few small words make Serbian sound polite. 'Molim' means 'please' and also 'you're welcome' and 'pardon?' when you didn't hear. 'Hvala' is 'thank you' (you can strengthen it: 'hvala lepo', 'hvala mnogo'). To say 'sorry / excuse me' you choose by who you talk to: 'izvini' to one familiar person (ti) and 'izvinite' to someone polite or to several people (vi). When someone thanks you, reply 'nema na čemu' ('not at all'). When you offer or invite someone in, say 'izvolite' (polite) or 'izvoli' (familiar). These words pair directly with the ti/vi choice, so the polite forms end in -ite.

Key rule

Use 'molim' (please), 'hvala' (thanks) and 'nema na čemu' (you're welcome); for sorry/excuse-me pick 'izvini' (ti) vs 'izvinite' (vi/plural).

Examples

  • Izvinite, gde je pošta?
    Izvini, gde je pošta?

    Asking a stranger for directions calls for the polite 'izvinite'.

  • Hvala vam mnogo na pomoći.
    Hvala ti mnogo na pomoći.

    Thanking someone you address politely uses 'hvala vam', not the familiar 'hvala ti'.

  • — Hvala! — Nema na čemu.
    — Hvala! — Molim te.

    The reply to thanks is 'nema na čemu' (or 'molim'); 'molim te' means 'please (I beg you)'.

Common mistakes

  • Using familiar 'izvini' with a stranger

    Izvini, koliko je sati?
    Izvinite, koliko je sati?

    A stranger is addressed with 'vi', so the polite 'izvinite' is required.

  • Mismatching the politeness word and the verb register

    Molim vas, dođi.
    Molim vas, dođite.

    'Molim vas' (vi) must go with the plural imperative 'dođite'.

A1Numbers dates time

Cardinal Numbers 1–100 (jedan, dva, tri … sto)

Glavni brojevi 1–100

Serbian counts 1–10 as jedan, dva, tri, četiri, pet, šest, sedam, osam, devet, deset. The teens add '-naest' to the base: jedanaest (11), dvanaest (12), trinaest (13)… do devetnaest (19). The tens are dvadeset (20), trideset (30), četrdeset (40), pedeset (50), šezdeset (60), sedamdeset (70), osamdeset (80), devedeset (90), and sto (100). To build numbers in between, just say the ten and the unit: dvadeset jedan (21), trideset pet (35). Note 'jedan' has gender forms (jedan/jedna/jedno) and agrees with the noun; 'dva' has dva (m/n) and dve (f). From pet (5) upward the counted noun goes into the genitive plural — that part is drilled later.

Key rule

Learn units 1–10, add '-naest' for teens and the special tens (dvadeset…devedeset, sto); build the rest as ten + unit, e.g. dvadeset jedan.

Examples

  • Imam dvadeset godina.
    Imam dvadeset jedan godina.

    'Dvadeset' (20) is the number meant here; adding 'jedan' would make it 21, a different number.

  • Ona ima tri brata.
    Ona ima tri braća.

    After 'tri' the noun takes the counted form 'brata', not the plural 'braća'.

  • U razredu je dvadeset pet učenika.
    U razredu je dvadeset pet učenici.

    After 'pet' (5) the noun goes into the genitive plural 'učenika', not nominative plural 'učenici'.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong gender of 'two'

    dva žene
    dve žene

    'Žena' is feminine, so 'two' is 'dve', not 'dva'.

  • Nominative plural after 5+

    pet jabuke
    pet jabuka

    From five upward the counted noun goes into the genitive plural: 'pet jabuka'.

A1Numbers dates time

Days & Months (lower-case; ponedeljak, januar)

Dani i meseci

The seven Serbian days are ponedeljak, utorak, sreda, četvrtak, petak, subota, nedelja. Note that 'nedelja' means both 'Sunday' and 'week'. The twelve months are januar, februar, mart, april, maj, jun, jul, avgust, septembar, oktobar, novembar, decembar. Unlike English, Serbian writes days and months in lower-case. To say 'on Monday' use 'u' + accusative: u ponedeljak, u sredu, u petak. For 'on Sunday' say 'u nedelju'. For months, 'in May' is 'u maju' (locative): u januaru, u maju, u decembru. Knowing these lets you talk about your weekly schedule and the time of year.

Key rule

Days and months are lower-case; 'on a day' = 'u' + accusative (u ponedeljak, u nedelju); 'in a month' = 'u' + locative (u maju, u januaru).

Examples

  • Vidimo se u ponedeljak.
    Vidimo se u Ponedeljak.

    Days are written lower-case in Serbian, so 'ponedeljak', not 'Ponedeljak'.

  • Rođen sam u maju.
    Rođen sam u maj.

    'In May' uses the locative 'u maju', not the accusative 'u maj'.

  • U nedelju idemo na izlet.
    U nedelja idemo na izlet.

    'On Sunday' is 'u nedelju' (accusative), not the nominative 'u nedelja'.

Common mistakes

  • Capitalising days or months

    Vidimo se u Petak, u Januaru.
    Vidimo se u petak, u januaru.

    Serbian writes days and months in lower-case.

  • Using accusative for 'in a month'

    u decembar
    u decembru

    'In + month' takes the locative: 'u decembru'.

A1Numbers dates time

Telling Time — Basic (Koliko je sati? Dva je sata)

Koliko je sati — osnove

To ask the time, say 'Koliko je sati?' The answer uses the number plus a form of 'sat' (hour/clock). For one o'clock: 'Jedan je sat' (or 'Jedan sat je'). For two, three and four the noun takes the counted form 'sata' and the verb is plural: 'Dva su sata', 'Tri su sata', 'Četiri su sata'. From five o'clock up, the noun is the genitive plural 'sati' and the verb is singular: 'Pet je sati', 'Deset je sati', 'Dvanaest je sati'. To say at what time something happens, use 'u' + accusative number: 'u dva', 'u pet', 'u sedam'. Beware: 'sat' means hour/clock, while a school lesson is 'čas'.

Key rule

Ask 'Koliko je sati?'; answer with the counting rule on 'sat' — 'Jedan je sat', 'Dva/tri/četiri su sata', 'Pet+ je sati'; say 'at' with 'u' + accusative number.

Examples

  • Koliko je sati?
    Koliko su sati?

    The fixed question is 'Koliko je sati?' with singular 'je'.

  • Dva su sata.
    Dva je sata.

    With 'dva' the verb is plural 'su' and the noun is the counted form 'sata'.

  • Jedan je sat.
    Jedan su sat.

    With 'jedan' the verb is singular 'je' and the noun is singular 'sat'.

Common mistakes

  • Plural verb in the time question

    Koliko su sati?
    Koliko je sati?

    The set question keeps the singular 'je': 'Koliko je sati?'.

  • Singular verb with 2/3/4 o'clock

    Dva je sata.
    Dva su sata.

    With 2/3/4 the verb is plural 'su'.

A1Syntax

Basic Word Order (SVO) & Clitic Second Position

Red reči — SPO i enklitika na drugom mestu

Serbian word order is flexible because the case endings already show who does what, so you can move words around for emphasis. The neutral, everyday order is still Subject–Verb–Object, like English: Ana čita knjigu (Ana reads a book). What is NOT free is where the little unstressed words go. Clitics — the short forms of biti (sam, si, je, smo, ste, su), the reflexive se, and the short object pronouns (me, te, ga, mu) — must sit in the SECOND slot of the sentence, right after the first stressed word or phrase. You can never start a sentence with one. So you say Ja sam student, not the other way around. These little words lean on the word in front of them.

Key rule

Default to Subject–Verb–Object, but always put unstressed clitics (sam, je, se, me, ga…) in the second slot — never first.

Examples

  • Ja sam student.
    Sam ja student.

    The clitic 'sam' cannot start the sentence; it must come second, after 'Ja'.

  • Ana čita knjigu.
    Ana knjigu čita.

    Neutral order is Subject–Verb–Object; putting the object before the verb is marked and unusual for a beginner.

  • Knjigu mu dajem.
    Mu knjigu dajem.

    The dative clitic 'mu' must be in second position; here the fronted object 'Knjigu' is first, so 'mu' follows it.

Common mistakes

  • Starting a sentence with a clitic

    Sam umoran.
    Ja sam umoran.

    An unstressed clitic like 'sam' can never be the first word; a stressed word must come before it.

  • Putting the reflexive 'se' after the verb instead of second

    Ona zove se Ana.
    Ona se zove Ana.

    'Se' is a clitic and clings to the second slot, right after the first word 'Ona'.

A1Syntax

Yes/No Questions: da li / je li / li

Da-li pitanja i upitno li

To ask a yes/no question in Serbian there are two standard ways, and both are completely correct. The most common in speech is da li at the start: Da li radiš? (Do you work?), Da li je gotovo? (Is it ready?). The other way uses the little word li right after the verb: Radiš li? Je li gotovo? With the verb biti, the full form gives Jesi li? (Are you?), Da li si…? You can also just raise your voice at the end of a normal statement: Radiš? Both da li and the li-question are neutral and everyday — neither is wrong or worse. Pick whichever feels natural; learners usually find da li easiest because the word order stays the same.

Key rule

Make a yes/no question with 'Da li' at the start or with the enclitic 'li' right after the verb — both are standard and correct.

Examples

  • Da li radiš danas?
    Da li ti radiš danas li?

    Use 'Da li' OR 'li' to mark the question, never both at once.

  • Radiš li danas?
    Li radiš danas?

    The enclitic 'li' follows the verb in second position; it cannot open the sentence.

  • Da li je film dobar?
    Da li film je dobar?

    With 'Da li', the clitic 'je' stays in second position, before the predicate noun.

Common mistakes

  • Starting a question with the enclitic 'li'

    Li radiš danas?
    Da li radiš danas? / Radiš li danas?

    'Li' is an enclitic and must follow a stressed word; it can never be the first word.

  • Using both 'da li' and 'li' in one question

    Da li imaš li vremena?
    Da li imaš vremena?

    A yes/no question takes only one question marker — either 'da li' or the enclitic 'li'.

A1Syntax

Wh-Questions (Ko? Šta? Gde? Kada? Zašto?)

Upitne rečenice — upitne reči

To ask for information — who, what, where, when, why — Serbian puts the question word at the start of the sentence: Ko? (who), Šta? (what), Gde? (where), Kada? / Kad? (when), Zašto? (why), Kako? (how), Koliko? (how much/many). After the question word, any clitic goes in second position: Gde si? (Where are you?), Šta radiš? (What are you doing?), Zašto plačeš? (Why are you crying?). Note the Serbian word for 'what?' is šta, not što — that is a Croatian form you will only see as a wrong example here. You do not add any helper word like English 'do'; the question word plus the verb is enough.

Key rule

Put the question word (Ko, Šta, Gde, Kada, Zašto, Kako) first and any clitic second; use 'šta' for 'what?', never 'što'.

Examples

  • Šta radiš?
    Što radiš?

    The Serbian interrogative for 'what?' is 'šta'; 'što' in this meaning is a Croatian form.

  • Gde si?
    Gde ti si?

    After 'Gde', the clitic 'si' takes second position directly; no extra pronoun is inserted.

  • Ko je to?
    Ko to je?

    The clitic 'je' must be in second position, right after the question word 'Ko'.

Common mistakes

  • Using 'što' to mean 'what?'

    Što hoćeš?
    Šta hoćeš?

    In standard Serbian 'what?' is 'šta'; 'što' is a conjunction, not the interrogative.

  • Inserting a subject pronoun before a clitic in a question

    Gde ti si?
    Gde si?

    After the question word the clitic takes second position directly; an extra pronoun pushes it out of place.

A1Syntax

Negation & Obligatory Double Negation (Niko ne zna)

Negacija i obavezna dvostruka negacija

To say 'not' in Serbian you put ne right before the verb: Ne radim (I don't work), Ne znam (I don't know). The big difference from English is what happens with words like 'nobody', 'nothing' or 'never'. In Serbian, negative words such as niko (nobody), ništa (nothing), nikad (never) and nigde (nowhere) STILL need ne on the verb. So 'Nobody knows' is Niko ne zna — literally 'nobody doesn't know'. Two negatives do NOT cancel out; the double (even triple) negative is required and correct. You can pile them up: Niko nikad ništa ne kaže (Nobody ever says anything). Leaving out 'ne' here is a mistake.

Key rule

Put 'ne' before the verb, and keep it even with negative words like niko, ništa, nikad — the double negative is obligatory.

Examples

  • Niko ne zna.
    Niko zna.

    A 'ni-' word like 'niko' requires 'ne' on the verb; the double negative is obligatory.

  • Ništa ne razumem.
    Ništa razumem.

    'Ništa' must be accompanied by 'ne' before the verb.

  • Nikad ne kasnim.
    Nikad kasnim.

    'Nikad' co-occurs with 'ne'; leaving out 'ne' is ungrammatical.

Common mistakes

  • Dropping 'ne' with a 'ni-' word (English single negative)

    Niko dolazi.
    Niko ne dolazi.

    Serbian uses negative concord: 'niko' obligatorily co-occurs with 'ne' on the verb.

  • Writing 'ne je' instead of 'nije'

    Ona ne je umorna.
    Ona nije umorna.

    The negation of the clitic 'je' is the fused single word 'nije'.

A1Connectors

Coordinating Conjunctions: i, a, ali, ili

Naporedni veznici — i, a, ali, ili

Four small words join Serbian sentences. I means 'and' — it simply adds things: Marko i Ana, Pijem kafu i čitam. A is a soft contrast, like 'and/whereas/but' — it compares two different things: Ja radim, a on spava (I work, while he sleeps). Ali is a strong 'but' — it shows a real opposition or surprise: Umoran sam, ali idem (I'm tired, but I'm going). Ili means 'or': Čaj ili kafa? Use i to add, a to compare gently, ali to push back, and ili to give a choice. Note: before a (and usually ali) you write a comma; before i and ili you normally do not.

Key rule

Use 'i' to add, 'a' for gentle contrast (whereas), 'ali' for strong 'but', and 'ili' for 'or' — put a comma before 'a' and 'ali'.

Examples

  • Pijem kafu i čitam novine.
    Pijem kafu ali čitam novine.

    Two compatible actions are simply added with 'i'; 'ali' would wrongly imply opposition.

  • Ja radim, a on spava.
    Ja radim i on spava.

    Contrasting two different situations calls for 'a' (whereas), not the additive 'i'.

  • Umoran sam, ali idem na posao.
    Umoran sam, a idem na posao.

    There is a real opposition (tired vs still going), so strong 'ali' is needed, not mild 'a'.

Common mistakes

  • Using 'ali' for simple addition

    Pevam ali plešem.
    Pevam i plešem.

    'Ali' marks opposition; two compatible actions are joined with 'i'.

  • Using 'i' where a contrast is meant

    Ja volim čaj i on voli kafu.
    Ja volim čaj, a on voli kafu.

    Contrasting two different preferences requires 'a' (whereas), not additive 'i'.

A1Connectors

Basic Subordinators: da (that), jer (because)

Zavisni veznici — da, jer

Two subordinating words let you build longer sentences. Da means 'that' and introduces what someone knows, thinks or says: Znam da dolaziš (I know that you are coming), Mislim da je dobro (I think that it's good). Unlike English, you can never drop da — 'I know you're coming' must keep it. Da also follows want/must/can with a present-tense verb: Hoću da idem (I want to go). Jer means 'because' and gives a reason: Ostajem kod kuće jer pada kiša (I'm staying home because it's raining). You normally put a comma before jer. So da links a thought or wish, and jer answers 'why?'.

Key rule

Use 'da' for 'that' (never droppable) and after want/must/can with a present verb; use 'jer' for 'because', with a comma before it.

Examples

  • Znam da dolaziš.
    Znam dolaziš.

    'Da' cannot be dropped in Serbian, unlike English 'that'.

  • Mislim da je kasno.
    Mislim je kasno.

    The complementizer 'da' is obligatory before the content clause.

  • Ostajem kod kuće jer pada kiša.
    Ostajem kod kuće zašto pada kiša.

    'Jer' means 'because'; 'zašto' is the question word 'why?', not a cause connector.

Common mistakes

  • Dropping 'da' (English 'that' omission)

    Mislim je dobro.
    Mislim da je dobro.

    Unlike English, Serbian cannot omit the complementizer 'da'.

  • Using 'zašto' instead of 'jer' for 'because'

    Ne idem zašto pada kiša.
    Ne idem jer pada kiša.

    'Zašto' is the question word 'why?'; the cause connector is 'jer'.

A1Verb tenses

Present of biti — Full Form (jesam, jesi, jeste…)

Glagol biti — prezent (jesam)

The verb biti means 'to be'. It has two present-tense sets of forms: a long, stressed one and a short, unstressed one. This tag covers the long form: jesam, jesi, jeste (or jest), jesmo, jeste, jesu. You use the long form when you want to stress the verb, when biti stands at the start of a sentence, and especially in short yes-answers: Jesam! ('I am / Yes, I am'). It is also the form you use in questions with the li particle: Jesi li tu? ('Are you here?'). For neutral, everyday sentences you normally use the short clitic form instead, which is a separate tag.

Key rule

The full forms jesam, jesi, jeste, jesmo, jeste, jesu carry their own stress and are used for emphasis, short answers (Jesam.), and questions with li (Jesi li…?).

Examples

  • Da li si umoran? — Jesam.
    Da li si umoran? — Sam.

    A short yes-answer must use the stressed full form Jesam; the clitic sam cannot stand alone.

  • Jesi li ti student?
    Si li ti student?

    Before the question particle li the verb takes the full form jesi, not the clitic si.

  • Mi jesmo prijatelji, ne brini.
    Mi smo jesmo prijatelji, ne brini.

    Use either the emphatic jesmo or the clitic smo, never both together.

Common mistakes

  • Using the clitic alone as a short answer

    Da li si tu? — Sam.
    Da li si tu? — Jesam.

    The clitic sam cannot bear stress or stand on its own; a one-word answer needs the full form jesam.

  • Clitic before the li particle

    Si li gladan?
    Jesi li gladan?

    The li question must attach to the stressed verb form, so biti appears as jesi.

A1Verb tenses

Present of biti — Clitic (sam, si, je, smo, ste, su)

Glagol biti — enklitika (sam)

The short, unstressed form of biti ('to be') is the everyday way to say 'am, are, is'. The forms are sam, si, je, smo, ste, su. These are clitics: they have no stress of their own and lean on the word before them, so they cannot stand first in a sentence. The normal place for them is the second slot: Ja sam student ('I am a student'), On je lekar ('He is a doctor'), Mi smo prijatelji ('We are friends'). You use this clitic copula in almost all neutral sentences. The stressed forms (jesam, jesi…) are kept for emphasis and short answers.

Key rule

Use the unstressed clitic sam/si/je/smo/ste/su in the second position of a clause (Ja sam student); it can never stand first.

Examples

  • Ja sam student.
    Sam ja student.

    The clitic sam cannot begin the clause; it goes in the second slot after Ja.

  • On je dobar čovek.
    On dobar je čovek.

    The clitic je takes the second position, right after the first stressed word On.

  • Mi smo iz Srbije.
    Mi su iz Srbije.

    Mi ('we') is 1st plural and takes smo; su is 3rd plural 'they are'.

Common mistakes

  • Putting the clitic first in the clause

    Sam student.
    Student sam. / Ja sam student.

    Clitics never open a clause; they must occupy the second position after a stressed word.

  • Wrong person form

    Mi su umorni.
    Mi smo umorni.

    Mi is 1st plural (smo); su is the 3rd-plural 'they' form.

A1Verb tenses

Negation of biti (nisam, nisi, nije…)

Odrična forma — nisam

To say 'am not, are not, is not' in Serbian you use special negative forms of biti, written as ONE word: nisam, nisi, nije, nismo, niste, nisu. You never put 'ne' in front of the copula — that is wrong. Unlike the positive clitic, these negative forms are stressed, so they CAN stand at the beginning of a sentence: Nisam umoran ('I am not tired'). The most common one is nije ('is not'): On nije kod kuće ('He is not at home'). These negatives are also used to build the negative past tense later, so they are very useful to learn early.

Key rule

Negate biti with the one-word forms nisam, nisi, nije, nismo, niste, nisu — never *ne sam or *ne je.

Examples

  • Ja nisam umoran.
    Ja ne sam umoran.

    The negative of sam is the single word nisam; *ne sam does not exist.

  • On nije kod kuće.
    On ne je kod kuće.

    'Is not' is the fused word nije; you cannot split it into ne je.

  • Mi nismo gladni.
    Mi nesmo gladni.

    The 1st-plural negative is nismo, written with an i: ni-smo.

Common mistakes

  • Splitting the negative copula into ne + clitic

    Ja ne sam student.
    Ja nisam student.

    Serbian fuses the copula negation into one word; *ne sam is not Serbian.

  • Writing nije as ne je

    Ona ne je tu.
    Ona nije tu.

    'Is not' is the single fixed word nije.

A1Verb tenses

Present — a-conjugation (-am: čitam, gledam)

Prezent — glagoli na -am (čitati)

Most Serbian verbs whose dictionary form ends in -ati follow a very regular present pattern: the endings are -am, -aš, -a, -amo, -ate, -aju. Take čitati ('to read'): čitam, čitaš, čita, čitamo, čitate, čitaju. To make the present, drop -ti from the infinitive and add the ending. This is the easiest and largest 'easy' class, including everyday verbs like gledati ('to watch'), igrati ('to play'), pevati ('to sing'), znati ('to know'), and imati ('to have'). Subject pronouns (ja, ti, on…) are usually dropped because the ending already shows who is acting.

Key rule

For -ati verbs, drop -ti and add -am, -aš, -a, -amo, -ate, -aju (čitam, čitaš, čita, čitamo, čitate, čitaju).

Examples

  • Ja čitam knjigu.
    Ja čitaju knjigu.

    1st singular is čitam; čitaju is the 3rd-plural form.

  • Ti gledaš film.
    Ti gledaš film je.

    The verb gledaš already carries the meaning; no extra je is added.

  • Ona peva lepo.
    Ona pevaš lepo.

    3rd singular ends in -a (peva); -aš is the 2nd-singular form.

Common mistakes

  • Using the infinitive as a finite verb

    Ja čitati knjigu.
    Ja čitam knjigu.

    Serbian must conjugate; the infinitive cannot be the main predicate.

  • Wrong 3rd-plural ending

    Oni čitu knjige.
    Oni čitaju knjige.

    The a-conjugation 3rd plural is -aju, not -u.

A1Verb tenses

Present — i-conjugation (-im: radim, govorim)

Prezent — glagoli na -im (raditi)

A very large group of Serbian verbs forms the present with the endings -im, -iš, -i, -imo, -ite, -e. Take raditi ('to work / to do'): radim, radiš, radi, radimo, radite, rade. Other common members are govoriti ('to speak'), videti ('to see'), učiti ('to learn'), nositi ('to carry'), voleti ('to love'). The big thing to remember is the 3rd plural: it ends in -e (rade, govore, uče), NOT in -u or -aju. The 3rd singular ends in just -i (radi). As with all Serbian verbs, you usually drop the pronoun because the ending shows who is acting.

Key rule

For i-class verbs add -im, -iš, -i, -imo, -ite, -e — the 3rd plural is -e (rade, govore), not -aju or -u.

Examples

  • Ja radim u školi.
    Ja radem u školi.

    1st singular of an i-class verb is radim, not *radem.

  • Ti govoriš srpski.
    Ti govoraš srpski.

    The i-class 2nd singular keeps -iš (govoriš), not -aš.

  • Ona uči matematiku.
    Ona učim matematiku.

    3rd singular is uči; učim is the 1st-singular form.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong 3rd-plural ending

    Oni govoraju brzo.
    Oni govore brzo.

    The i-conjugation 3rd plural is -e (govore), not the a-class -aju.

  • Using -em for 1st singular

    Ja radem.
    Ja radim.

    The i-class 1st singular is -im (radim).

A1Verb tenses

Present — e-conjugation (-em: pišem, idem)

Prezent — glagoli na -em (pisati)

The third present class uses the endings -em, -eš, -e, -emo, -ete, -u. Its mark is the 3rd plural -u: idem, ideš, ide, idemo, idete, idu ('to go'). Many of these verbs change their stem when you conjugate them: pisati ('to write') → pišem, pišeš…; piti ('to drink') → pijem. So you cannot always just drop -ti and add the ending — you also have to learn the present stem. Common members: ići (idem), pisati (pišem), piti (pijem), jesti (jedem), uzeti (uzmem). The 3rd-singular ends in -e, the 3rd-plural in -u.

Key rule

For e-class verbs use -em, -eš, -e, -emo, -ete, -u, and learn the present stem, which often differs from the infinitive (pisati→pišem, ići→idem, piti→pijem).

Examples

  • Ja pišem pismo.
    Ja pisam pismo.

    The present stem of pisati is piš-, so 1st singular is pišem, not *pisam.

  • Ti ideš u školu.
    Ti idaš u školu.

    ići is e-class: 2nd singular is ideš (-eš), not -aš.

  • Ona pije kafu.
    Ona pijem kafu.

    3rd singular is pije; pijem is the 1st-singular form.

Common mistakes

  • Keeping the infinitive stem in the present

    Ja pisam pismo.
    Ja pišem pismo.

    Pisati has a different present stem piš-; the present is pišem.

  • Wrong 3rd-plural ending

    Oni ide u grad.
    Oni idu u grad.

    The e-class 3rd plural is -u (idu), and a plural subject cannot take the singular ide.

A1Verb tenses

Present of hteti (to want) — hoću / neću

Glagol hteti — prezent (hoću)

Hteti means 'to want'. Its present is irregular and very common: hoću, hoćeš, hoće, hoćemo, hoćete, hoće. The negative is even more important — it is written as ONE word: neću, nećeš, neće, nećemo, nećete, neće. To say what you want to do, Serbian normally uses da + present: Hoću da idem ('I want to go'), Hoću da jedem ('I want to eat'). The bare infinitive (Hoću ići) exists but sounds more written/western; da + present is the everyday standard. Hteti is also secretly the verb behind the future tense.

Key rule

Hteti = hoću/hoćeš/hoće…; the negative is the one-word neću/nećeš/neće…; complement it with da + present (Hoću da idem), not normally the bare infinitive.

Examples

  • Hoću da idem kući.
    Hoću ići kući.

    Serbian default after hteti is da + present (da idem); the bare infinitive sounds more written.

  • Neću da jedem sada.
    Ne ću da jedem sada.

    The negative is the single word neću; *ne ću does not exist.

  • Da li hoćeš da pođeš sa nama?
    Da li hoćaš da pođeš sa nama?

    2nd singular is hoćeš, with -e-, not *hoćaš.

Common mistakes

  • Splitting the negative into ne + ću

    Ja ne ću da idem.
    Ja neću da idem.

    The negative of hteti is lexicalised as one word: neću.

  • Defaulting to the bare infinitive

    Hoću kupiti hleb.
    Hoću da kupim hleb.

    Serbian normally complements hteti with da + present, not the infinitive.

A1Verb tenses

Present of moći (can / be able) — mogu / možeš

Glagol moći — prezent (mogu)

Moći means 'can / to be able to'. Its present is irregular: mogu, možeš, može, možemo, možete, mogu. Notice the consonant change: the 1st singular and 3rd plural keep g (mogu), but the other forms change g to ž (možeš, može, možemo, možete). To say what you can do, use da + present: Mogu da dođem ('I can come'), Mogu da pomognem ('I can help'). The form može on its own is also a very common way to say 'OK / that works'. Like other modals, moći prefers da + present over the bare infinitive in everyday Serbian.

Key rule

Moći = mogu/možeš/može/možemo/možete/mogu (g↔ž alternation); complement with da + present (Mogu da dođem); negate regularly as ne mogu.

Examples

  • Mogu da ti pomognem.
    Možem da ti pomognem.

    The 1st singular is mogu (with g), not *možem.

  • Da li možeš da dođeš?
    Da li mogeš da dođeš?

    The 2nd singular changes g to ž: možeš.

  • Ona ne može da spava.
    Ona ne možem da spava.

    3rd singular is može; *možem is not a form.

Common mistakes

  • Regularising the 1st singular to možem

    Ja možem da dođem.
    Ja mogu da dođem.

    The 1st singular keeps g: mogu.

  • Keeping g where ž is required

    Ti mogeš.
    Ti možeš.

    All forms except 1sg and 3pl change g to ž.

A1Verb tenses

Negation with ne + Verb (ne radim)

Negacija glagola — ne

To make a verb negative in Serbian, put ne directly before it, written as a SEPARATE word: ne radim ('I don't work'), ne znam ('I don't know'), ne govorim ('I don't speak'). This works for almost all verbs. There are only three special verbs whose negation is written as ONE word: neću (from hteti 'want'), nemam (from imati 'have'), and nije/nisam… (from biti 'be'). Everything else is just ne + the conjugated verb, with a space. Remember: ne goes right before the verb it negates, even when the pronoun is dropped.

Key rule

Negate a verb with a separate ne before it (ne radim); only neću (hteti), nemam (imati) and nije/nisam (biti) are written as one word.

Examples

  • Ja ne radim nedeljom.
    Ja neradim nedeljom.

    For regular verbs ne is a separate word: ne radim.

  • On ne zna odgovor.
    On neznam odgovor.

    ne stays separate (ne zna) and the verb agrees with on (zna, not znam).

  • Mi ne govorimo italijanski.
    Mi ne govorimo ne italijanski.

    One ne is enough; don't double it on the object.

Common mistakes

  • Writing ne and the verb as one word

    Ja neznam.
    Ja ne znam.

    For regular verbs ne is a separate orthographic word: ne znam.

  • Splitting one of the fused exceptions

    Ne mam vremena.
    Nemam vremena.

    imati's negative is the single word nemam.

A1Verb tenses

Present for Habitual & Scheduled Future (Sutra radim)

Prezent za naviku i blisku budućnost

Serbian has only one present tense, and it does a lot of work. It covers what is happening now (Sada čitam = 'I am reading now'), habits and routines (Svaki dan učim = 'I study every day'), and general truths (Voda ključa na sto stepeni). Importantly, the present can also express a scheduled or near future, especially with a time word: Sutra putujem ('I'm travelling tomorrow'), U ponedeljak radim ('I'm working on Monday'). There is no separate continuous tense, so one present form covers both 'I read' and 'I am reading'. The full future tense (futur) is learned later.

Key rule

One Serbian present covers now, habits, general truths, AND a scheduled near future (Sutra putujem) — there is no separate continuous tense.

Examples

  • Sutra putujem u Niš.
    Sutra putujući u Niš.

    A scheduled future uses a normal present (putujem); there is no continuous/-ing form.

  • Svaki dan učim srpski.
    Svaki dan sam učim srpski.

    The habitual present needs only the verb učim, with no extra copula.

  • Sada gledam vesti.
    Sada sam gledam vesti.

    There is no separate continuous tense; the simple present gledam covers 'I am watching'.

Common mistakes

  • Adding a copula to a simple present

    Ja sam radim svaki dan.
    Ja radim svaki dan.

    The present is a single verb form; no extra sam is needed.

  • Inventing a continuous tense

    Sada sam gledajući film.
    Sada gledam film.

    Serbian has no progressive form; one present covers 'watch' and 'am watching'.

A1Verb usage

biti as Copula + Predicate (Ja sam lekar)

Biti kao spona — imenski predikat

The verb biti (to be) links a subject to a word that describes or identifies it: a noun, an adjective, or a profession. This linking word is called a predicate, and biti is the copula that connects it to the subject. In everyday Serbian you use the short clitic forms of biti: sam, si, je, smo, ste, su. The clitic almost always stands in second position in the sentence, so you say Ja sam lekar (I am a doctor), On je dobar (He is good), Ona je lekarka (She is a doctor). The predicate noun or adjective stands in the nominative case, just like the subject, and an adjective agrees with the subject in gender and number.

Key rule

Use the clitic forms of biti (sam, si, je, smo, ste, su) in second position to link a subject to a nominative predicate noun or an agreeing adjective.

Examples

  • Ja sam lekar.
    Ja lekar.

    The copula is obligatory; the clitic sam must link the subject to the predicate noun.

  • Ona je dobra učiteljica.
    Ona je dobar učiteljica.

    The predicate adjective must agree in gender: feminine učiteljica takes dobra, not dobar.

  • Mi smo studenti.
    Mi su studenti.

    First person plural uses smo; su is third person plural.

Common mistakes

  • Dropping the copula entirely

    On dobar.
    On je dobar.

    Serbian still needs the verb biti to link subject and predicate; only the subject pronoun may be dropped, not the copula.

  • Adjective not agreeing with the subject's gender

    Ona je umoran.
    Ona je umorna.

    A predicate adjective agrees with the subject in gender and number; feminine ona takes umorna.

A1Verb usage

Possession: imati / nemati (Imam auto)

Imati i nemati — posedovanje

To say that you have something, Serbian uses the verb imati: imam, imaš, ima, imamo, imate, imaju. The thing you have goes in the accusative case, the object case: Imam brata (I have a brother), Imamo auto (We have a car). The negative is nemati, written as one word: nemam, nemaš, nema, nemamo, nemate, nemaju — never *ne imam. With the negative, the object often switches to the genitive case, especially with abstract or uncountable things: Nemam vremena (I have no time), Nema hleba (There is no bread). Imati is also used impersonally to mean 'there is': Ima hleba (There is some bread).

Key rule

Use imati with the object in the accusative; the negative is the one-word nemati, after which the object usually goes into the genitive.

Examples

  • Imam brata.
    Imam brat.

    Brat is masculine animate, so the accusative equals the genitive: brata.

  • Nemam vremena.
    Ne imam vreme.

    The negative is one word, nemam, and the object goes into the genitive: vremena.

  • Imamo veliku kuću.
    Imamo velika kuća.

    The direct object of imati is accusative: feminine kuća becomes kuću and the adjective becomes veliku.

Common mistakes

  • Writing the negative as two words

    Ne imam vremena.
    Nemam vremena.

    Nemati is fused; the negative of imati is the single word nemam, never *ne imam.

  • Leaving the object in the nominative

    Imam sestra.
    Imam sestru.

    The object of imati is a direct object and must be in the accusative: sestru.

A1Verb usage

Modals + da + Present (moram da idem)

Modalni glagoli + da + prezent

After modal verbs like morati (must), hteti (want), moći (can) and želeti (to wish), standard Serbian joins a second verb with da + the present tense: Moram da idem (I must go), Hoću da radim (I want to work), Mogu da dođem (I can come), Želim da učim (I want to study). The second verb is conjugated for the same person as the modal: Moram da idem, Moraš da ideš, Mora da ide. This da + present construction is the neutral, everyday Serbian pattern — it is what you should use by default. The bare infinitive (Moram ići) also exists but feels more formal or written, so beginners should learn the da + present version first.

Key rule

After modal and phase verbs, the standard Serbian complement is da + a present-tense verb agreeing in person (Moram da idem), not the infinitive.

Examples

  • Moram da idem.
    Moram da idu.

    The complement verb agrees in person with the modal: first person idem, not the third person plural idu.

  • Hoću da radim.
    Hoću da raditi.

    After da the verb must be a finite present form, radim, not the infinitive raditi.

  • Mogu da dođem sutra.
    Mogu doći sutra.

    The infinitive is possible but the neutral standard pattern uses da + present: da dođem.

Common mistakes

  • Putting the infinitive after da

    Moram da ići.
    Moram da idem.

    After da the verb must be a finite present form agreeing with the subject, not the infinitive.

  • Wrong person on the complement verb

    Hoću da radiš.
    Hoću da radim.

    When the subject is the same, the complement agrees in person with the modal: da radim for 'I want to work'.

A1Verb usage

da + Present vs the Infinitive (da primary)

Da + prezent naspram infinitiva

Serbian has two ways to attach a second verb to a modal or phase verb: da + present (Hoću da radim) and the bare infinitive (Hoću raditi). They mean the same thing, but they are not equally common. In everyday standard Serbian, da + present is the neutral, default choice — it is what you hear in conversation. The infinitive is more typical of formal writing and of western variants. As a beginner you should produce da + present and simply recognise the infinitive when you read it. One thing to avoid completely: do not split the future the way Croatian does (radit ću). Serbian writes the future fused (radiću) or uses ja ću da radim.

Key rule

Both da + present and the infinitive are correct after modals, but produce da + present (the neutral standard) and merely recognise the infinitive.

Examples

  • Hoću da spavam.
    Hoću da spavati.

    After da the verb is a finite present, spavam; the infinitive cannot follow da.

  • Volim da čitam.
    Volim čitati.

    Both are grammatical, but da + present (da čitam) is the neutral spoken standard a learner should produce.

  • Mogu da pomognem.
    Mogu pomoći ću.

    The complement is da + present; mixing in a future auxiliary is wrong.

Common mistakes

  • Infinitive placed after da

    Hoću da raditi.
    Hoću da radim.

    Da is always followed by a finite present verb, never an infinitive.

  • Defaulting to the infinitive in speech

    Moram raditi danas.
    Moram da radim danas.

    The infinitive is formal/written; the neutral spoken standard is da + present.

A1Verb usage

sviđati se + Dative Experiencer (Sviđa mi se)

Sviđati se — dativ doživljavača

To say you like something, Serbian flips the sentence around. The thing you like becomes the grammatical subject, and the person who likes it goes into the dative case: Sviđa mi se ova knjiga (literally 'this book is pleasing to me'). The verb sviđati se agrees with the liked thing, not with the person. So if you like one thing, you use sviđa se; if you like several, you use sviđaju se: Sviđaju mi se ove cipele. The dative person is usually a clitic: mi (to me), ti (to you), mu (to him), joj (to her), nam (to us). This is very different from English, where 'I' is the subject.

Key rule

With sviđati se the liked thing is the nominative subject (and controls verb agreement) while the liker stands in the dative — Sviđa mi se knjiga.

Examples

  • Sviđa mi se ova knjiga.
    Sviđam ovu knjigu.

    Serbian makes the book the subject and the liker dative; you do not conjugate the verb for the liker.

  • Sviđaju mi se ove cipele.
    Sviđa mi se ove cipele.

    The plural subject cipele requires the plural verb sviđaju.

  • Sviđa mu se grad.
    Sviđa ga grad.

    The experiencer is dative (mu), not accusative (ga).

Common mistakes

  • Treating the liker as subject

    Sviđam ovu pesmu.
    Sviđa mi se ova pesma.

    The liked thing is the subject; the liker goes into the dative, and the verb agrees with the thing.

  • Using the accusative for the experiencer

    Sviđa me film.
    Sviđa mi se film.

    The experiencer takes the dative clitic mi, not the accusative me.

A1Verb usage

trebati (to need / should) — basic

Glagol trebati — potreba

The verb trebati expresses needing something or having to do something, and standard Serbian uses it impersonally. To say you need an object, put the person in the dative and the needed thing as the subject: Treba mi olovka (I need a pen). The verb agrees with the thing: Trebaju mi olovke (I need pens). To say you should do something, use the impersonal Treba da + present: Treba da idem (I should go), Treba da učiš (you should study). Avoid the English-style personal form *trebam ići — standard Serbian keeps trebati impersonal in these meanings.

Key rule

Standard trebati is impersonal: 'need' is dative person + treba/trebaju + thing, and 'should' is the fixed Treba da + present.

Examples

  • Treba mi olovka.
    Trebam olovku.

    Standard Serbian keeps trebati impersonal: the thing is the subject and the person is dative.

  • Trebaju mi nove cipele.
    Treba mi nove cipele.

    The plural subject cipele requires the plural verb trebaju.

  • Treba da idem.
    Trebam da idem.

    For 'I should go' the careful standard uses the impersonal treba, not the personal trebam.

Common mistakes

  • Personal conjugation for 'need'

    Trebam knjigu.
    Treba mi knjiga.

    Standard Serbian keeps trebati impersonal: dative person + treba + nominative thing.

  • Personal trebam for 'should'

    Trebam da idem.
    Treba da idem.

    'Should' is the fixed impersonal Treba da + present; treba stays third person singular.

A1Verb usage

Reflexive se — Introduction (zovem se, perem se)

Povratni glagoli — se (uvod)

Many Serbian verbs come with the little word se, called a reflexive clitic. Sometimes se means the action turns back on the subject — Perem se (I wash myself), Oblačim se (I get dressed). Very often, though, se is just a fixed part of the verb with no 'self' meaning: Zovem se Ana (My name is Ana, literally 'I call myself Ana'), Smejem se (I laugh), Igram se (I play), Šetam se (I take a walk). The clitic se does not change for person — it is the same for ja, ti, on, mi, vi, oni. Like other clitics, se stands in second position: Ja se zovem Ana, Kako se zoveš?

Key rule

Se is an invariable reflexive clitic that is part of many verbs; it never changes for person and sits in second position (Ja se zovem Ana).

Examples

  • Zovem se Ana.
    Zovem Ana.

    Zvati se requires the reflexive se; without it the sentence is incomplete.

  • Kako se zoveš?
    Kako zoveš se?

    The clitic se must be in second position, right after the question word.

  • Ja se perem ujutru.
    Ja perem se ujutru.

    With the pronoun first, se takes the second slot: Ja se perem.

Common mistakes

  • Dropping se from a reflexive verb

    Zovem Marko.
    Zovem se Marko.

    Zvati se needs the reflexive se; leaving it out changes or breaks the meaning.

  • Placing se after the verb when the subject is first

    Ja perem se.
    Ja se perem.

    The clitic se must stand in second position, so it follows the subject pronoun ja.

A1Verb usage

Aspect Awareness — First Look (pisati / napisati)

Glagolski vid — prvi susret

Many Serbian verbs come in pairs: one for an action seen as ongoing or repeated (imperfective), and one for an action seen as completed (perfective). For example pisati / napisati (to write), čitati / pročitati (to read), kuvati / skuvati (to cook). The two verbs of a pair mean the same basic activity but look at it differently. At A1 you only need to recognise that these pairs exist and learn them together. One surprising rule: the present tense of a perfective verb does NOT mean 'now'. Napišem does not mean 'I am writing' — for the present you use the imperfective pišem. The perfective shows up mostly in the future and after da.

Key rule

Serbian verbs come in imperfective/perfective pairs; learn them together and remember the present of a perfective verb does not mean 'now'.

Examples

  • Sada čitam knjigu.
    Sada pročitam knjigu.

    For an action happening now use the imperfective čitam; the perfective pročitam cannot mean present time.

  • Svaki dan pišem pismo.
    Svaki dan napišem pismo.

    A repeated/habitual action takes the imperfective pišem, not the perfective napišem.

  • Sutra ću da napišem pismo.
    Sutra ću da pišem pismo i završim.

    A single completed future action uses the perfective napišem.

Common mistakes

  • Using a perfective present for 'now'

    Sada napišem pismo.
    Sada pišem pismo.

    The present of a perfective verb does not mean present time; ongoing action uses the imperfective pišem.

  • Perfective for a repeated action

    Svaki dan pročitam novine.
    Svaki dan čitam novine.

    Habitual/repeated actions take the imperfective: čitam.

See this grammar in real Serbian storiesFree graded stories for this level — reading is the fastest way to make these rules automatic.
Is A1 your level? Take the free Serbian grammar test50 questions from A1 to C1 with instant explanations — free, about 10–15 minutes, no signup.
Lenguia Premium

Ready to master serbian grammar?

Get personalized stories, an AI tutor for your grammar questions, and smart practice for every topic on this page.

Try for Just $1