Language/Bosnian/Grammar/Basic-Sentence-Structure

Bosnian Grammar → Introduction to Bosnian Grammar → Basic Sentence Structure

As a Bosnian language teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to introduce you to the basic sentence structure in Bosnian. In this lesson, you will learn how to create simple sentences in Bosnian using subject-verb-object word order.

Let's start with some cultural information: Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country located in Southeastern Europe, with a rich history and culture influenced by both the East and the West. The official language is Bosnian, which is a South Slavic language spoken by over 2 million people worldwide. The Bosnian language has its own unique grammar and syntax, which we will explore in this lesson.

Basic Sentence Structure

In Bosnian, the basic sentence structure follows the subject-verb-object (SVO) pattern. This means that the sentence starts with the subject, followed by the verb, and ends with the object. Here's an example:

Bosnian	Pronunciation	English
Ja čitam knjigu.	Ya chee-tahm k-nyi-goo	I am reading a book.

In this sentence, "Ja" is the subject (which means "I" in English), "čitam" is the verb (which means "am reading" in English), and "knjigu" is the object (which means "a book" in English).

It's important to note that the word order in a sentence can sometimes be rearranged for emphasis or stylistic reasons. However, the SVO pattern is the most common and basic structure for simple sentences in Bosnian.

Here are some more examples of simple sentences in Bosnian using the SVO pattern:

• Ja jedem jabuku. (I eat an apple.)
• On pije vodu. (He drinks water.)
• Ona sluša muziku. (She listens to music.)

Remember that the verb in Bosnian changes depending on the subject and the tense. We will cover more about verbs and conjugation in the next lesson.

Tips for Practicing

To practice creating simple sentences in Bosnian using the SVO pattern, try the following exercises:

1. Choose a subject (such as "Ja", "Ti", "On", "Ona", "Mi", or "Vi") and come up with different verbs and objects to create multiple sentence variations.
2. Look around the room or at a picture and describe what you see in Bosnian using simple sentences.
3. Watch a short video or listen to a song in Bosnian and try to identify the subjects, verbs, and objects in the lyrics.

Remember to start with basic sentences and gradually build up to more complex ones. As you practice, you'll become more familiar with the Bosnian grammar and syntax.

I hope this lesson has provided a helpful introduction to the basic sentence structure in Bosnian. In the next lesson, we will explore the different forms of articles and nouns in Bosnian. Don't forget to practice and let me know if you have any questions!

Table of Contents - Bosnian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Bosnian Alphabet

• Bosnian Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Special Characters and Sounds

  ---

Basic Bosnian Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Gender and Plurals
• Personal Pronouns

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Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

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Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

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Bosnian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

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Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Common Hobbies
• Sports and Fitness

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Bosnian Literature and Cinema

• Famous Writers and Works
• Bosnian Cinema

Related Lessons

• Articles and Nouns
• Plurals
• Personal pronouns
• Adjectives
• How to Use Have
• Gender
• Give your Opinion
• How to Use Be
• Questions