Language/Serbian/Grammar/Questions
Question words
| Serbian | English | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Зашто | Why | Зашто ходаш бос? | Why you walk barefoot? |
| Шта | What | Шта си донео? | What did you bring? |
| Ко | Who | Ко је појео јабуку? | Who ate apple? |
| Кога | Who (genitive) | Кога си видео? | Who did you see? |
| Коме | Who (dative) - whom | Коме пишеш писмо? | Who you're writing the letter? |
| Који/која/које | which | Која су твоја кола? | What car is yours? |
| с киме | with who | С киме идеш на плес? | With who you're going to dance? |
| Како | How | Како си? | How are you? |
| Где | Where | Где је продавница? | Where is shop? |
| Одакле | From where (in your direction) | Одакле си? | Where are you coming from? |
| Куда | Where (in what direction, from your direction) | Куда путујеш? | Where are you traveling? |
| (Са) чиме | (With) what | Са чиме је тај сендвич? | What ingredients are in this sandwich? |
| Чега | what (genitive, for objects only) | Поред чега је врећа? | Near what is a bag? |
Regular question
Question is very similar like regular sentence. Key word that marks sentence is "ли", what is always positioned as second word in sentence.
The most grammar correct question start with "да ли ...", but there are also form where verb goes at first place (имаш ли...? - have you ...?).
Another form of question what is used in colloquial speech is confirmative form of verb be (јесам, јеси): јеси ли....?
Examples:
| Non question | English translation | да ли form | verb + ли form | confirmative be + ли form | English translation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ти имаш цигару. | You have cigarete. | Да ли (ти) имаш цигару? | Имаш ли (ти) цигару? | Је ли имаш (ти) цигару? | Do you have cigarete? | |
| Ти си гледао филм. | You watched the movie. | Да ли си (ти) гледао филм? | Гледао ли си (ти) филм? | Јеси ли (ти) гледао филм? | Did you watch the movie? | |
| Она је правила колач. | She made a cake. | Да ли је (она) правила колач? | - [2] | Је ли (она) правила колач? | Did she make a cake? | |
| Ми ћемо радити у шуми. | We will work in the forest. | Да ли ћемо (ми) радити у шуми? | Хоћемо[1] ли (ми) радити у шуми? | Је ли ћемо (ми) радити у шуми? | Will (shall) we work in forest? |
[1] Search for explanation for future tense and using "damaged" verb have
[2] In this case, question can't be formed with verb + form. But it is possible to make question with "finished" form of verb make (направити): Она је направила колач - Направи ли она колач?
Question with negation
This form of questions is rarely used. It can be formed with "зар" + negative form of verb be (нисам, ниси, није). Another form is negative "be" + ли.
Зар ниси у школи? - Ниси ли у школи? - Haven't you in school?