STUDY GUIDE

Learn Serbian. Have fun.

LESSON 101

GRAMMAR
VOCABULARY
PRACTICE
ANSWER KEY

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GRAMMAR
TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS IN SERBIAN

Today we are going to take a look at Serbian verbs and learn the difference
between transitive and intransitive verbs.

Some Serbian verbs demand an object and some don’t. What does this mean?

Example: On voli životinje - He loves animals

We see that the word životinje (animals) comes directly after the verb voleti (to
love). Životinje (animals) is the object in this sentence and it’s a masculine plural
animate noun the 4th case without prepositions. Just like in English, you can’t
really say in Serbian He likes, and then finish the sentence. Verbs of this kind, for
example the verb to like or to love (voleti) are called transitive verbs because
they require an object. Most action verbs in Serbian are transitive and they
transfer their action onto an object – a noun in the 4th case without
prepositions, like our example On voli životinje.

There are verbs in Serbian that do not require an object and they are called
intransitive verbs.
Example: Beba place - The baby cries
Example: Ja skačem - I’m jumping
These verbs don’t require an object. We simply have the subject beba and ja, and
the predicate plače and skačem. Intransitive verbs in Serbian do not transfer
anything onto an object because they do not have an object and therefore they
are easy to use.

Study Guide 2
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INTRANSITIVE VERBS (DO NOT REQUIRE AN OBJECT)

Here is a short list of intransitive verbs in Serbian language:

Serbian English
sesti to sit down
ustati to get up
ići to go
plivati to swim
uspeti to succeed
ležati to lie down
stajati to stand

Intransitive verbs don’t require an object. We can simply have the subject and the predicate
in a sentence. Intransitive verbs in Serbian do not transfer anything onto an object because
they do not have an object .

TRANSITIVE VERBS (RE QUIRE AN OBJECT)

Serbian English
imati to have
raditi to work, to do
gledati to watch
kupiti to buy
čitati to read
pisati to write
nastaviti to continue

Study Guide 3
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Let’s get back to our transitive verbs and their need for an object. It is important
to know that an object in a sentence can be:
1. a noun
2. a pronoun
3. a phrase

Example: Ja gledam film - I’m watching a movie

The verb gledati (to watch) is followed by the object which is the singular
masculine noun film (movie) and it’s in the 4th case without prepositions. So we
know that this is an object. We know that the verb gledati is a transitive verb
because if we were to only say Ja gledam (I watch), this wouldn’t be a complete
sentence. You would wonder Šta ti gledaš? What are you watching? We know
the verb to watch requires an object and this is what makes it transitive.

Example: Ona pravi ukusne kolače She makes delicious cookies

We see the phrase ukusne kolače (delicious cookies) comes after the verb praviti
(to make). Ukusne kolače is in the 4th case without prepositions and it’s the
object in this sentence. If we were to only say Ona pravi (She makes), this
wouldn’t be a complete sentence. It’s missing something: an object - ukusne
kolače, because the verb praviti is a transitive verb. Ona is the subject, pravi is
the verb (predicate) and ukusne kolače is the object.

When the object is in the 4th case, singular or plural, and it’s without
prepositions, it’s called a direct object. But, when transitive verbs take on objects
in any of the 7 cases in Serbian, except for the first case and the fourth case
without prepositions, it is called an indirect object.

Study Guide 4
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TRANSITIVE VERBS WITH INDIRECT OBJECT AND PREPOSITIONS

Serbian Preposition Case English

učestvovati u 7th case to participate in something
nastaviti sa 6th case to continue with something/someone
čeznuti za 6th case to long for something/someone
uživati u 3rd case to enjoy something

Example: Ja uživam u pogledu - I’m enjoying the view

In this sentence we have the subject ja (I), then the verb uživati (to enjoy) and
then the indirect object which is the preposition u (in) plus the noun pogledu, in
the 3rd case (which means view). Pogled is the 1st case of this masculine
inanimate singular noun. Ja uživam u pogledu, literally means in Serbian I’m
enjoying in the view. So, for you to correctly use the verb to enjoy in Serbian, you
need to know that it requires an indirect object in the 3rd case.

Example: Ja čeznem za odmorom - I am longing for vacation

In this sentence we have the subject ja (I), then the verb čeznuti (to long) and
then the indirect object which is the preposition za (for) plus the noun odmorom,
in the 6th case (which means vacation). Odmor is the 1st case of this masculine
inanimate singular noun. Ja čeznem za odmorom.

Example: Ja učestvujem u takmičenju - I am participating in the competition

In this sentence we have the subject ja (I), then the verb učestvovati (to
participate) and then the indirect object which is the preposition in (u) plus the
noun takmičenju, in the 7th case (which means competition). Takmičenje is the 1st
case of this neuter inanimate singular noun. Ja učestvujem u takmičenju.

Study Guide 5
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Some verbs in Serbian can be both, transitive and intransitive depending on their
usage.
For example, the verb čuti (to hear), can be in transitive if used in a sentence:
Ja čujem - I hear
We have the subject ja (I) and the predicate (verb) čuti (to hear) and no object.
Example: Ja čujem buku - I hear the noise
In this sentence the verb čuti (to hear) is followed by the direct object which is the
noun buka (noise) in the 4th case without prepositions.

Serbian English
čuti to hear
videti to see
ručati to have lunch
večerati to have dinner
telefonirati to phone, telephone

VOCABULARY

Serbian English
voleti to love, to like
plakati to cry
skakati to jump
sesti to sit down
ustati to get up
ići to go

Study Guide 6
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 Serbian English
plivati to swim
uspeti to succeed
ležati to lie down
stajati to stand
gledati to watch
praviti to make
imati to have
raditi to work
kupiti to buy
čitati to read
pisati to write
nastaviti to continue
čeznuti to long for
uživati to enjoy
učestvovati to participate
čuti to hear
videti to see
ručati to have lunch
večerati to have dinner
telefonirati to phone
životinja animal
životinje animals
beba baby
film movie
kolači cookies
ukusni delicious
pogled view
buka noise

Study Guide 7
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LESSON EXAMPLES

Serbian English
voleti životinje to love animals
gledati film to watch a movie
praviti ukusne kolače to make delicious cookies
uživati u pogledu to enjoy the view
čuti buku to hear the noise

PRACTICE
SENTENCES

# Serbian English Vocabulary

1. On voli životinje He loves animals životinje – animals
2. Beba plače The baby cries plakati – to cry

3. Ja skačem I am jumping skakati – to jump

4. Ja gledam film I am watching a movie gledati – to watch
5. Ona pravi ukusne kolače She makes delicious cookies ukusan – delicious
6. Ja uživam u pogledu I am enjoying in the view pogled – view
7. Ja čeznem za odmorom I am longing for vacation. odmor – vacation
8. Ja učestvujem u takmičenju I am participating in the competition takmičenje - competition
9. Ja čujem buku I hear the noise buka – noise

Study Guide 8
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EXCERCISE #1
Determine the verb aspect of the following verbs, put them in the appropriate columns, and translate
them into English:
PISATI, IĆI, PLIVATI, ČITATI, STAJATI, ČEZNUTI, USPETI, KUPITI, USTATI, UŽIVATI.

# intransitive English transitive English

1. pisati (example) to write

2.
3.

4.
5.

EXERCISE #2
Match the verbs with the right preposition/indirect object pair:

# # preposition and object match

1. Ti čezneš za odmorom a) u odmoru 1c) (example)

2. Ja nastavljam_________________ b) u takmičenju
3. On učestvuje _________________ c) za odmorom
4. Ona uživa ____________________ d) sa učenjem

EXCERCISE #3
Translate into Serbian
# English Serbian
1. I am drinking coffee Ja pijem kafu (example)

2. She is reading a book

3. They participate in the competition.

Study Guide 9
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ANSWER KEY
EXCERCISE #1

(The answer is underlined and in bold)

Determine the verb aspect of the following verbs, put them in the appropriate columns, and translate
them into English:
PISATI, IĆI, PLIVATI, ČITATI, STAJATI, ČEZNUTI, USPETI, KUPITI, USTATI, UŽIVATI.

# intransitive English transitive English

1. ići to go pisati (example) to write

2. plivati to swim čitati to read
3. stajati to stand čeznuti to long
4. uspeti to succeed kupiti to buy
5. ustati to get up uživati to enjoy

EXCERCISE #2

(The answer is underlined and in bold)

Match the verbs with the right preposition/indirect object pair:

# # preposition and object match

1. Ti čezneš za odmorom a) u odmoru 1c) (example)

2. Ja nastavljam sa učenjem b) u takmičenju 2d)
3. On učestvuje u takmičenju c) za odmorom 3b)
4. Ona uživa u odmoru d) sa učenjem 4a)

Study Guide 10
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EXCERCISE #3

(The answer is underlined and in bold)

Translate into Serbian
# English Serbian
1. I am drinking coffee Ja pijem kafu (example)
2. She is reading a book Ona čita knjigu
3. They participate in the competition. Oni učestvuju u takimčenju

Great job! Ćao, drugari!

Study Guide 11
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