How to motivate yourself to continue with learning Serbian language

If you have been started with learning Serbian, that already means that you have basic motivation and a reason for learning this Slavic language. But Serbian language is not easy and you will experience ups and downs in your motivation for learning.
Let's see what can we do about it.

1) What is your goal with learning Serbian ? 

To be able to communicate with friends and family in Serbia ? To start your business in Serbia ? To study in Serbia ? Keep that is mind when you have motivation crises. Never forget your goal. And remember that big and important goals are never reached over the night. 

2) Appreciate small improvements. 

If you had problems before with mixing up pronouns (on ona ono oni one ona, ah, it really sounds so similar) and now you don't - appreciate that. If you don't make mistakes in 3rd person plural of present tense - appreciate that. If you are confident about your accusative, but still not totally comfortable with your locative, appreciate your accusative. Every small step is bringing you closer to the success.

3) Be realistic - new language is a new world. Give yourself time. 

There is so many new stuff to learn. Vocabulary, grammar rules, words order... It takes time. For someone a year, for someone three years. It's individual and don't pressure yourself about it. You need as much time as you need. 

4) Visualize yourself at the end of the road.

Imagine the moment when you are communicating with a family, working in Serbia, or study on one of Serbian faculties and you don't have any problems in understanding people around you. You feel good and accepted. 

5) Have fun with it.

Watch movies, play games, read comic books. Put stickers on your clothes and on house objects with words for them. Talk with children. Fun will increase your level of motivation.

6) Approach to the language from the different angles.

Similar to the number 5). Input as much variations as you can - when you are bored of grammar, take a walk and guess the names of things on your way. Do exercises and when you are bored with that, join some Serbian chat and contribute (say something :) ). Write a letter to a friend in your (limited, doesn't matter) Serbian, surprise him. 

7) Do a little bit every day.

Then you will constantly renew your motivation.

Make it to be a part of your daily routine. Give yourself small daily homework. Be free to use my blog for that purpose. 

Serbian Teacher Online

Lidija Novakovic Lagrini 

Contact: kratkeprice@gmail.com 

Comparison of Adjectives - Exercises for Advanced Learners of Serbian Language

Are you an advanced learner of Serbian language and you need some challenging exercises to practice your skill ? Then this is the right post for you. 

Use the right form of comparative or superlative:

1) Moja devojka je ______  (lep) od tvoje.
2) Nikad mi nije bilo ______ (dobar) nego sada.
3) Ana je moja ______ (dobar) drugarica.
4) Žuta paprika je _____ (ljut) od zelene.
5) Ovo ćebe je _____  (mekan) koje imam.
6) Ana je visoka, ali njena sestra je još ______ (visok).
7) Taj film mi je ______  (interesantan) od istoimene knjige.
8) Dijamant je ______ (tvrd) od bisera.
9) Ona je ______ (popularan) devojka u našoj školi.
10) Tvoji roditelji su ______ (tolerantan) od mojih.
11) Kada se ošišam, kosa će mi biti ______ (kratak) nego tvoja.
12) Na maturskoj večeri, _____ (veseo) je bio naš razredni.
13) Biće mnogo _____ (loše) nego što je sada.
14) Obuci se ______ (toplo), napolju je hladno.
15) Ti si _____ (lud) nego što sam mislila. 

Reminder: suffixes for making comparison in Serbian language are - ji, -iji, -ši.
Although, this rule is note very useful, because there are many letter alternations and several exceptions.

To check your answers, write to 

Serbian Teacher Online

kratkeprice@gmail.com

Lidija Novakovic Lagrini 

Serbian Vocabulary Exercises 2

The tiny differences in pronunciation of Serbian words with difficult letters, and finding the right verb - always useful exercises, even for the advanced learners. 

Write the missing verbs:

1.    _____  hleb i _____ mleko za doručak.

2.    Ana _____ dobru knjigu.

3.    Marko _____ email njegovoj devojci.

4.    Mi _____ na more.

5.    Markovići _____ avionom.

6.    Deca _____ sa loptom i sa lutkama.

7.    On _____ o filmu.

8.    Ana i Stevan _____ na ulici.

9.    Sunce _____ ali _____ sneg.

10.                       Ja ne _____ vino, ali _____ rakiju.

11.                       U junu _____ Exit festival.

12.                       Naši prijatelji _____ autobus.

Underline the correct word:

13.                       PRICATI   PRIČATI

14.                       DŽEP    ĐEP

15.                       ĐONI DEP    DŽONI DEP

16.                       DECA      DEĆA

17.                       COKOLADA     ČOKOLADA

18.                       LJUBAV       LUBAV

19.                       NEGOVA      NJEGOVA

20.                       RUČAK        RUĆAK

21.                       ROĐAK       RODŽAK

Serbian Vocabulary Exercises

    During language learning process, the crucial is expanding and developing your vocabulary. These exercises are suitable for beginners and intermediate learners of Serbian language. Write to Serbian Teacher Online and check your answers. 

1.    Choose the right word:

Ptice ________ na drveću.   (ručaju, kuvaju, pevaju)

Mala deca _________ u pesku.  (igraju se, kupaju se, zovu se)

Njegova ________ zove se Ana.  (igračka, devojka, stolica)

Deda ______  auto.  (peva, vozi, spava)

Na ______  ima puno prirode, trave i drveća. (selu, krevetu, kauču)

Od ________ pravimo ajvar.  (mesa, jagoda, džema)

Ada je rečno ________. (more, vreme, ostrvo)

U ________ je veoma hladno. (januaru, junu, avgustu)

Moj __________ je 19. septembra.  (slava, rođendan, muškarac)

Tamo su sportski _______ za golf i tenis. (pljeskavice, tereni, pesme)

2.    Translate:

U januaru slavimo Božić.

Mama i baka kuvaju divna jela.

Grad je najlepši kada pada sneg.

Deca se igraju na snegu.

Moja devojka je najlepša.

Ptice dolaze sa juga.

Deca pevaju pesme.

I drink wine and eat roast.

My birthday is in July.

Birds are green and yellow.

Elephant is in the Yoo.

We walk in the park.

I am not called Ana.

3.    Choose the right word:

Moja baba ______  zeleni mercedes. (kuva/vozi/pravi)

Na ______  žive krave, konji i koze. (selu/gradu/snegu)

U proleće ________  jabuke.  (moraju/žele/cvetaju)

Deca ______ (spavaju/trče/kuvaju) u dvorištu.

Domaćice ______ (žele/prave/vole)  ajvar i džem.

Oktobar je ______  (hladan/topao/crven) mesec.

Raspust _______ (radi/čita/počinje) u julu.

Exit je srpski ________ (telefonirati/muzički/zeleni) festival.

4.    Translate:

Kada je slava, dolaze gosti.

Moram da spavam u 9 sati.

Deca vole da idu u školu.

Septembar i oktobar su jesenji meseci.

Zimi ljudi oblače tople kapute.

Strowberries blossom in May.

Children play in the backyard.

Today is fantastic day.

for more exercises write to 

Serbian Teacher Online 

Lidija Novakovic Lagrini

Pronunciation of Serbian R

   Letter R is the only letter in Serbian alphabet which might be both - a vowel and a consonant. Normally it's a consonant. But when there is no other vowel in a group of consonants, R takes over that role. 

     There are some facts and tricks which might be helpful for improving our pronunciation of Serbian letter R. 

1)      R in Serbian is a vibrant sound (Spanish Oscar, Serbian Oscarrrr). When you pronounce it properly, you should feel the vibration on the surface of your tongue. 

2)      The position of speech organs should be this: the top of the tongue is above the upper teeth, slightly touching it or not touching it at all.

3)      Words for practicing R in clusters PR and TR:   PRVI, PRAVI, PROMET, PRIČA, PREDMET, TRAVA, VATRA, TRAJATI, TRAŽITI. 

      4)    Words for practicing R when R has a role of a vowel: SRBIJA, PRTLJAŽNIK, PRŽITI, CRKVA, KRST, TRG, CRVENO.

      5)      This is a good trick to check if you are doing it properly: put your hand in front of the mouth; say R several times; if you feel your breath on your palm, the pronunciation is good. Try this as many times as needed, until you clearly feel your breath. 

6)      Sing in house RRRRRRRRR, SIRRRRRR, PRRRRRAVI… Maybe you may make up your personal song with words that contain R.

      Enjoy in learning Serbian (that is the most important) !

      

      For more advises, ask for my help kratkeprice@gmail.com

      Serbian Teacher Online

      Lidija Novakovic Lagrini

Future Tense in Serbian Language with Exercises

future tense

We can make future tense in two ways:

1)   With shorter form of auxiliary verb ‘hteti’   (ću, ćeš, će, ćemo, ćete, će) + infinitive (basic form of the verb).

Example: Future tense of the verb PISATI

      

1.  ću pisati                     1.  ćemo pisati

2.  češ pisati                   2.  ćete pisati

3.  će pisati                     3.  će pisati

2)   By adding shorter form of auxiliary verb ‘hteti’ to infinitive’s root.

1.  pisaću                      1.  pisaćemo

2.  pisaćeš                    2.  pisaćete

3.  pisaće                      3.  pisaće

EXERCISES:

a) Underline verbs in future tense:

Ja ću doći kod tebe sutra oko 7 sati. Nadam se da ćeš me sačekati spreman. Ponećemo opremu za pecanje, imaćemo na sebi lovačke čizme i obući ćemo tople jakne. Vreme će biti vedro, ali vetrovito. Duvaće snažan vetar sa severa. Nadam se da ćemo uloviti dosta ribe. 

b) Conjugate following verbs in future tense: gledati, praviti, želeti, uraditi.

c) Fill in the blanks with verbs in future tense:

Mama ______ (kuvati) kolače za slavu.

Ana i ja ________ (gledati) film u bioskopu.

Ti ______ (želeti) da slaviš rođendan.

Vreme ______ (biti) veoma hladno.

Ispiti ______ (biti) teški. 

Learn Serbian with Serbian Teacher Online

Lidija Novakovic Lagrini

Improve Your Spoken Serbian - Speaking Topics for Intermediate Level

You are learning Serbian for a while and you feel confident when it is about grammar rules, writing or understanding. But when you need to communicate in a real life, you are experiencing some difficulties and you are a little bit discouraged by that. 

If that is the case, the solution is - talking and only talking. Practice communication and use your Serbian on daily basis as much as possible. 

For these exercises, you will need to have a language partner - Serbian speaker. Ask somebody to help you, most of the people will gladly accept. Doesn't matter if they are native or non native Serbian speakers or if the conversation goes alive or online. Pick your role, and - start practicing your Serbian!  

Conversation topics:

1) U prodavnici odeće, razgovor kupca i prodavca.

Reči: veličina, boja, pantalone, suknja, sako, košulja, majica, cena, malo, veliko, probati, kupiti, želeti, izvolite, hvala...

2) Na pijaci, razgovor kupca i prodavca.

Reči: kilo, pakovanje, krompir, kupus, šargarepa, paradajz, jabuke, banane, gram, jaja, sir, voće, povrće, skupo, jeftino, izmeriti, zrelo, dajte mi, lubenice, limun, orasi, birati... 

3) Na pecanju, razgovor dede i unuka.

Reči: udica, mamac, štap za pecanje, upecati, riba, reka, šaran, som, girica, mreža, voda, mirno, sedeti, čekati, obala...

4) U školi, razgovor učenika i profesorke.

Reči: čas, lekcija, učiti, srpski jezik, gramatika, izgovor, vežbanja, primer, čitati, pisati, ne znati, razumeti, učionica, kasniti, ponoviti, zaboraviti, knjiga, sveska...

5) U kuhinji, razgovor muža i žene.

Reči: ručak. večera, jesti, doručak, kuvati, ukusno, so, biber, salata, musaka, sarma, meso, tanjir, viljuška, kašika, gibanica, ajvar, sto, dragi...

6) U noćnom klubu, razgovor momka i devojke koji se ne poznaju.

Reči: zdravo, zvati se, popiti, piće, muzika, glasno, di džej, koncert, noćni život, gde, koliko, po zanimanju, slušati, lepa, veče, ponovo...

Serbian Teacher Online
Lidija Novakovic Lagrini

Serbian Present Tense: 3rd Person Plural

Serbian present tense is not very difficult for understanding and remembering. The only part that might make certain difficulty to the Serbian learners is the form for 3^rd person plural.

Let’s repeat the endings: Singular: -M, -Š, -O, Plural: -MO, -TE, -U/-E/-JU.

These endings are always the same for every verb of Serbian language in present tense whose basic form (infinitive) end with –TI. The only form with variations is 3rd person plural –U/-E/-JU.

But there is a rule that might help us to choose the right ending with a verb we want to conjugate or to use in a sentence.

In 3rd person of Serbian present tense, endings might be –U, -E or –JU. That depends on a 1st  of the verb we want to conjugate. 

If the verb in its 1st person form ends with –im, form in a 3rd person will end with          –E. Verbs: voleti (1st person – volim, 3rd person – vole), videti (1st person – vidim, 3rd person – vide), misliti (1st - person mislim, 3rd person – misle), tražiti (1st person – tražim, 3rd person – traže) etc.

If the verb in its 1st person form ends with –em, form in a 3rd person will end with         –U. Verbs: kazati (1st person – kažem, 3rd person – kažu), piti (1st person – pijem, 3rd person – piju), pasti (1st person – padnem, 3rd person – padnu), jesti (1st person – jedem, 3rd person – jedu), etc. These verbs are most often irregular.

The majority of the verbs end with –JU in a 3rd person plural of present tense. These verbs are mostly regular and end with –am in a 1st person of present tense.

If you have more questions about the Present tense in Serbian language, write to Serbian Teacher Online - kratkeprice@gmail.com
Lidija Novakovic Lagrini

Serbian Text with Exercises (Intermediate Level)

The text which follows might help you to expand your Serbian vocabulary and to practice making simple sentences in Serbian language. 

Text: Leto u Srbiji

U julu je u Srbiji uvek veoma toplo. Temperatura je nekad 40 stepeni. Mnogi Srbi idu na more, u Grčku, Tursku ili Crnu Goru.

Beograđani imaju Adu. To je rečno ostrvo. Na njemu su plaža, sportski tereni za badmington, tenis, odbojku, golf; mali Zoološki vrt sa domaćim životinjama, itd. Posetioci mogu videti ovce, mačke, pse, labudove... U restoranu mogu naručiti pljeskavice, riblju čorbu ili pasulj. Nije skupo.

U Srbiji se održavaju mnogi festivali. Na primer Exit u Novom Sadu i festival trube u Guči. Na Exitu sviraju moderni tehno, pop, dens bendovi. Na festivalu u Guči sviraju trubački bendovi. Exit je u julu, a festival u Guči je u avgustu.

Exercises 

1. Translate:

Truba

Pljeskavice

Bend

U julu

Na primer

Festival

Rečno ostrvo

Mačke

Ovce

Labudovi

Plaža

Badmington

Mnogi

More

Riblja čorba

Nije skupo

In

August

40 degrees

Temperature

warm

Sport courts

In Serbia

Always

Very

Monte Negro

Citizens of Belgrade

That

Domestic animals

Golf

Zoo

Dogs

May order

Restaurant

Beans

To take place

In Novi Sad

Modern

2. Use the following words/phrases and make simple sentences:

U Novom Sadu

Festival

U avgustu

Pljeskavice

Naručiti

Ada

Domaće životinje

mačke

When you are done, send your solutions to my email and I will check your answers and send you the feedback. 

Learning Serbian is easier with Serbian Teacher Online

Lidija Novakovic Lagrini 

Past Tense in Serbian Language with Exercises

PAST TENSE – PROŠLO VREME

The tenses in Serbian language might be simple or complex. Past tense belongs to the group of complex tenses, because it is made of two verbs (an auxiliary verb and an ordinary verb).  

When you want to make past tense in Serbian language, you will use:

1) auxilliary verb ’jesam’ (shorter form)

+

2) stem – the first part of the verb (without ending  ’ti’) – gleda(ti), peva(ti), žele(ti) ...

And then you add endings – o, la, lo, li, le, la    (depending of a gender of a word)

Examples:

1)

Ja sam želeo, želela, želelo

Ti si želeo, želela, želelo

On je želeo, ona je želela, ono je želelo

Mi smo želeli, želele, želela

Vi ste želeli, želele, želela

Oni su želeli, one su želele, ona su želela

2)

Ja sam pevao, pevala, pevalo

Ti si pevao, pevala, pevalo

On je pevao, ona je pevala, ono je pevalo

Mi smo pevali, pevale, pevala

Vi ste pevali, pevale, pevala

Oni su pevali, one su pevale, ona su pevala

EXERCISES:

1. Make the past tense from following verbs (napravi prošlo vreme od sledećih glagola): 

Tražiti VratitiČekati Igrati Praviti 

2. Podvuci glagole u prošlom vremenu – Underline verbs in past tense:
 Ja sam spavala do podne.Oni su ostali sa nama.Čekali smo voz.Marko je mislio na Anu.Ti si pričao o vestima.Dečaci su trčali na stadionu.Devojčica je želela lutku.Prijatelji su pili vino.Učitelj je glasno čitao knjigu.Sestre su govorile holandski jezik.Ja sam telefonirala dečku.Uveče u dnevnoj sobi otac je gledao TV.Šetali smo u centru Amsterdama.Vreme je bilo lepo. 

3. Put the sentences into past time, like in example

Oni dolaze u podne. – Oni su dolazili u podne.

Mi razgovaramo o knjizi.

Ana misli na svoju sestru.

Kiša pada.

Marko i Ana sanjaju isti san.

Za doručak imate musli i jogurt.

Telefon zvoni.

Marko spava.

Sunce sija.

Ana vozi dobar auto.

Moj deda dobro kuva.

Da li želiš čašu mleka?

Maja lepo peva.

Did you get it right ?
Write me to check your answers.

Learn Serbian language easily with

Serbian Teacher Online

Lidija Lagrini 

Cyrillic for Children 3 - Ћирилица за децу 3 - Ćirilica za decu 3

Да ли Ваше дете жели да научи ћирилицу, али на интернету не може наћи задатке за свој ниво? Ево једног лаког вежбања које га може подстаћи и охрабрити у учењу.

Encourage your child to learn Serbian Cyrillic with Serbian teacher online.

Which Cyrillic letters are missing ?
Која ћирилична слова недостају ?

Уколико желите још вежбања попут овог, пишите ми на kratkeprice@gmail.com . 

Да ли сте погодили ? Пишите ми и проверите своје одговоре.

Learn Serbian online!
Lidija Novakovic Lagrini

Modal Constructions in Serbian Language

In everyday conversations, we very often use modal constructions.The formula for making modal construction in present tense in Serbian language is:

MODAL VERB + DA + VERB 

Modal verbs in every language are the verbs which usually demand other verb.

Like in English examples: I have to go. You may proceed. I want to talk. We need to stay. etc.

These verbs often have the irregular conjugation. Let’s first see the conjugation of these verbs (and later we’ll see them in a role of modal verbs):

MOĆI (may) – iregular verb

Ja mogu

Ti možeš

On, ona, ono može

Mi možemo

Vi možete

Oni, one, ona mogu

HTETI (want) – this verb is iregular, modal and auxiliary verb

Ja hoću/ću

Ti hoćeš/ćeš

On, ona, ono hoće/će

Mi hoćemo/ćemo

Vi hoćete/ćete

Oni, one, ona hoće/će

MORATI (must, have to) – regular verb

SMETI (to be allowed) – regular verb

ŽELETI (wish) – iregular verb

Ja želim

Ti želiš

On, ona, ono želi

Mi želimo

Vi želite

Oni, one, ona žele

VOLETI (love, like) – the same conjugation as ŽELETI

TREBATI (need) – this verb is special and it is only in use in its modal form:

Ja treba da...

Ti treba da...

On, ona, ono treba da...

Mi treba da...

Vi treba da...

Oni, one, ona treba da...

ZNATI – regular verb

In modal constructions, these verbs are used with the conjunction DA.

Examples:

Ja znam da plivam

Ti treba sada da spavaš.

Mi moramo da učimo.

Vi smete još malo da spavate.

Ona želi da uči nemački jezik.

On može da ide.

Ja ću sada da kuvam.

When you learn how to make  modal constructions in Serbian language, that will be a nice way to say your message in conversation and to improve your communication skills. If you want to learn Serbian modal construction in past tense, write me

kratkeprice@gmail.com

Learn Serbian online with

Lidija Novaković Lagrini

Easy and Difficult in Serbian Language

Is it difficult to learn Serbian language ? 

Depends. Some areas are easy and some are difficult; just like in many other languages. If you want to learn easy language, learn Esperanto. But, unfortunately, you probably won't find too many people to talk with. It's a shame, Esperanto is a wonderful language. But, let's get back to the Serbian. 

What is easy?

1) Words order. It's pretty much liberal in comparison to other languages. Just relax and combine the words.

2) Alphabet. We brag sometimes that we have the perfect alphabet, because we accomplished the ideal - one letter for one sound. That is making the reading easier, naturally. 

3) Present tense of regular verbs. There is a grammar formula for this and you may apply it to all regular verbs. To make negative form is equally easy, by adding 'ne' in front of the verb. 

What is of the medium difficulty? 

1) Gender of changeable words. Many languages have this category. In Serbian it's not too difficult to recognize the gender. Either use simple logic, or pay attention to the last letter.

2) Plural. There are few grammar patterns for making plural.

3) Modal constructions. Modal verb and the following verb are always connected by conjunction DA.

4) DA LI questions. You may easily learn this basic type of asking questions.     

  

What is difficult?

1) Case. Changeable words have different endings depending of the role the word takes in a sentence. For example, the word 'majka' (mother) might be 'majke', 'majci', 'majku', 'majko', majkom', and that is only the declension in singular.

If you are a speaker of some other language which recognizes cases (Slavic languages for example), this will not be difficult for you, because you understand the concept. But if you are not...

How to make the difficult easier?

a) memorize propositions, b) memorize typical declensions for all three genders, c) read the theory about different positions words might have in a sentence, it helps.

2) Pronunciation of some letters, I will write them in Cyrillic: Ђ, Џ, Њ, Љ, Ч, Ћ. Sometimes R (Р in Cyrillic). 

How to make this easier, you may read in the article Pronunciation of Serbian Letters . 

Are you a learner of Serbian ? Do you agree with my opinion ? 

it would be valuable to know,

Serbian Teacher online

Lidija Novaković Lagrini

Serbian humor - Dinja

The great way to learn Serbian is to watch movies, TV-shows and to follow Serbian YouTube stars. 

Have you already heard for Dinja ? 12.000 people like her on Facebook, she has 60.000 followers on Instagram and her videos on Youtube are seen 3.000.000 times. Her jokes are sharp, absurd, hilarious, extremely funny and often funny and serious at the same time.
Wouldn't you like to know what is she talking about ? 

Gaće su pravo izbora - The Underpants are the Right of Choice

What kind of question is that - why am I wearing underpants around my neck ?!! 

You are violating my integrity, you don't have any right to ask me that !! 

My underpants are my jewelry. 

And ? Now what ? 

As a woman, I have the right to choose how do I wear my underpants, around the neck or... 

I don't understand, why are you abusing me ?!

Let me know which other clips do you like. Learn Serbian online while laughing with Serbian humor. 

Serbian Teacher Online

Lidija Novaković Lagrini