CSV entry 27 is what, the question word. In Serbian, what is шта. Шта је ово?: What is this? Шта радиш?: What are you doing? Не знам шта да кажем: I don't know what to say. You have met it in passing since the folk song in Lesson 1. This lesson teaches it properly.
Шта is a pronoun, and Serbian pronouns decline. English what never changes, but шта has a form for each case: чега (genitive), чему (dative and locative), чиме (instrumental). They do not look like шта, because they come from an older stem ч-, the same one that gives Russian что and чего. When a verb or a preposition needs another case, шта changes: Чега се бојиш?, What are you afraid of? (бојати се takes the genitive); О чему причате?, What are you talking about? (о takes the locative); Чиме путујете?, What are you travelling by? (the instrumental of means).
This brings a second difference from English. English leaves the preposition at the end of the question: what are you talking about? Serbian cannot. The preposition goes first and the question word follows it in the right case: о чему, од чега, за шта.
Do not confuse шта with што. Што is the relative which, that (Lesson 13) and the conjunction that, because (Lesson 22), and in speech it also means why: Што плачеш?, Why are you crying? The question word for what is шта.
Key Takeaways
- шта = what?, for things, as ко = who? for people - Case forms: шта (nominative and accusative), чега (genitive), чему (dative and locative), чиме or чим (instrumental) - The preposition comes first: о чему? about what?, од чега? from what?, за шта? for what?, с чим? with what? - Indirect questions keep шта: Не знам шта је то. Не знам шта да радим. - What + a noun is који or какав: Који је данас дан? What day is it today? - What's your name? is Како се зовеш? and what time is it? is Колико је сати?, with no шта - The same stem gives нешто (something), ништа (nothing), свашта (all sorts of things) and шта год (whatever) - Everyday phrases: Шта има? (what's up?), Шта ти је? (what's the matter?), Нема на чему (you're welcome)
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27.1a Шта what је is ово this 27.1b Šta (shtah) what je (yeh) is ovo (O-vo) this
27.2a Шта what радиш you-do 27.2b Šta (shtah) what radiš (RA-deesh) you-do
27.3a Шта what кажеш you-say 27.3b Šta (shtah) what kažeš (KA-zhesh) you-say
27.4a Чега what-GEN се REFL бојиш you-fear 27.4b Čega (CHE-ga) what-GEN se (seh) REFL bojiš (BO-yeesh) you-fear
27.5a О about чему what-LOC причате you-talk-PL 27.5b O (o) about čemu (CHE-moo) what-LOC pričate (PREE-cha-te) you-talk-PL
27.6a Шта what-ACC си you-are купила bought-FEM на at пијаци market-LOC 27.6b Šta (shtah) what-ACC si (see) you-are kupila (KOO-pee-la) bought-FEM na (nah) at pijaci (PEE-ya-tsee) market-LOC
27.7a Не not знам I-know шта what да to му him-DAT кажем I-say 27.7b Ne (neh) not znam (znahm) I-know šta (shtah) what da (dah) to mu (moo) him-DAT kažem (KA-zhem) I-say
27.8a Чиме what-INST путујете you-travel-PL возом train-INST или or аутобусом bus-INST 27.8b Čime (CHEE-me) what-INST putujete (POO-too-ye-te) you-travel-PL vozom (VO-zom) train-INST ili (EE-lee) or autobusom (A-oo-to-boo-som) bus-INST
27.9a Шта what ти you-DAT је is Изгледаш you-look уморно tired-ADV 27.9b Šta (shtah) what ti (tee) you-DAT je (yeh) is Izgledaš (EEZ-gle-dash) you-look umorno (OO-mor-no) tired-ADV
27.10a За for шта what-ACC ти you-DAT треба is-needed толико so-much новца money-GEN 27.10b Za (zah) for šta (shtah) what-ACC ti (tee) you-DAT treba (TRE-ba) is-needed toliko (TO-lee-ko) so-much novca (NOV-tsa) money-GEN
27.11a Шта what мислиш you-think да whether ли Q ће will сутра tomorrow падати fall-INF киша rain 27.11b Šta (shtah) what misliš (MEE-sleesh) you-think da (dah) whether li (lee) Q će (cheh) will sutra (SOO-tra) tomorrow padati (PA-da-tee) fall-INF kiša (KEE-sha) rain
27.12a Од from чега what-GEN се REFL прави is-made ајвар ajvar 27.12b Od (od) from čega (CHE-ga) what-GEN se (seh) REFL pravi (PRA-vee) is-made ajvar (AI-var) ajvar
27.13a Нема there-is-not на on чему what-LOC драго dear-NEUT ми me-DAT је is што that сам I-am могао could-MASC да to помогнем I-help 27.13b Nema (NE-ma) there-is-not na (nah) on čemu (CHE-moo) what-LOC drago (DRA-go) dear-NEUT mi (mee) me-DAT je (yeh) is što (shto) that sam (sahm) I-am mogao (MO-ga-o) could-MASC da (dah) to pomognem (PO-mog-nem) I-help
27.14a Шта what год ever да that се REFL деси happens позови call-IMP ме me-ACC 27.14b Šta (shtah) what god (god) ever da (dah) that se (seh) REFL desi (DE-see) happens pozovi (PO-zo-vee) call-IMP me (meh) me-ACC
27.15a Нисам I-am-not разумео understood-MASC ни not-even реч word од of онога that-GEN што which је is рекао said-MASC па so сам I-am га him-ACC питао asked-MASC шта what је is хтео wanted-MASC да to каже he-says 27.15b Nisam (NEE-sahm) I-am-not razumeo (ra-ZOO-me-o) understood-MASC ni (nee) not-even reč (rech) word od (od) of onoga (O-no-ga) that-GEN što (shto) which je (yeh) is rekao (RE-ka-o) said-MASC pa (pah) so sam (sahm) I-am ga (gah) him-ACC pitao (PEE-ta-o) asked-MASC šta (shtah) what je (yeh) is hteo (HTE-o) wanted-MASC da (dah) to kaže (KA-zhe) he-says
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27.1 Шта је ово? "What is this?"
27.2 Шта радиш? "What are you doing?" (also what are you up to?)
27.3 Шта кажеш? "What do you say?" (what do you think?, or what did you say?)
27.4 Чега се бојиш? "What are you afraid of?"
27.5 О чему причате? "What are you talking about?"
27.6 Шта си купила на пијаци? "What did you buy at the market?"
27.7 Не знам шта да му кажем. "I don't know what to tell him."
27.8 Чиме путујете, возом или аутобусом? "How are you travelling, by train or by bus?"
27.9 Шта ти је? Изгледаш уморно. "What's the matter with you? You look tired."
27.10 За шта ти треба толико новца? "What do you need so much money for?"
27.11 Шта мислиш, да ли ће сутра падати киша? "What do you think, will it rain tomorrow?"
27.12 Од чега се прави ајвар? "What is ajvar made from?"
27.13 Нема на чему, драго ми је што сам могао да помогнем. "You're welcome, I'm glad I could help."
27.14 Шта год да се деси, позови ме. "Whatever happens, call me."
27.15 Нисам разумео ни реч од онога што је рекао, па сам га питао шта је хтео да каже. "I didn't understand a word of what he said, so I asked him what he meant."
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27.1 Шта је ово?
27.2 Шта радиш?
27.3 Шта кажеш?
27.4 Чега се бојиш?
27.5 О чему причате?
27.6 Шта си купила на пијаци?
27.7 Не знам шта да му кажем.
27.8 Чиме путујете, возом или аутобусом?
27.9 Шта ти је? Изгледаш уморно.
27.10 За шта ти треба толико новца?
27.11 Шта мислиш, да ли ће сутра падати киша?
27.12 Од чега се прави ајвар?
27.13 Нема на чему, драго ми је што сам могао да помогнем.
27.14 Шта год да се деси, позови ме.
27.15 Нисам разумео ни реч од онога што је рекао, па сам га питао шта је хтео да каже.
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These are the rules for шта, and for the other ways Serbian says what.
1. Шта and ко. Serbian has two question pronouns: ко for people (who?) and шта for things, events and ideas (what?). Шта is neuter: Шта се десило? (What happened?) has a neuter verb, десило, as шта је било in 27.21 has било.
2. The declension of шта. Шта changes for case like a noun, but its other forms come from the stem ч-:
Nominative: шта (šta) — Шта је ово? (27.1) Genitive: чега (čega) — Чега се бојиш? (27.4) Dative: чему (čemu) — Чему онда цела прича? What was the whole story for? (27.25) Accusative: шта (šta) — Шта си купила? (27.6) Instrumental: чиме (čime), short form чим (čim) — Чиме путујете? (27.8) Locative: (о) чему ((o) čemu) — О чему причате? (27.5)
Nominative and accusative are the same, as in all neuter words. The long instrumental чиме is the usual form standing alone (Lesson 15, Чиме се бавиш?); after a preposition the short чим is common: с чим?, with what? (Lesson 17). The verse in Section F has чим without a preposition, as older Serbian did.
3. The case comes from the verb or the preposition. Шта takes whatever case its place in the sentence demands.
A verb that takes the genitive: бојати се and плашити се (to be afraid of), сећати се (to remember). Чега се бојиш? (27.4), Чега се сећаш? A verb that takes the instrumental: бавити се (to work at, to deal with). Чиме се бавиш? (What do you do for a living?) Means or instrument, instrumental without a preposition: Чиме путујете? (27.8), Чиме пишеш? What are you writing with?
4. Prepositions come first. English puts the preposition at the end: What are you afraid of? What is it made from? What do you need it for? Serbian always puts it in front, and шта takes its case:
о чему (about what, locative) — 27.5 од чега (from what, of what, genitive) — 27.12 због чега (because of what, why, genitive) за шта (for what, accusative) — 27.10 на шта (onto what, accusative) / на чему (on what, locative) — 27.13 у шта (into what) / у чему (in what) с чим (with what, instrumental)
5. Indirect questions. After знати, питати, рећи and similar verbs, a question becomes a clause, and шта stays: Не знам шта је то (Lesson 10). Питао сам га шта је хтео да каже (27.15). The tense is the tense of the original question; Serbian does not shift it back as English does.
Шта + да + present asks what is to be done: Не знам шта да му кажем (27.7), I don't know what to tell him; Шта да радим? (27.29), What am I to do?
Има шта да + present and нема шта да + present say there is or is not something to do: има шта да изгуби (27.26), he has something to lose; нема шта да се каже (Lesson 12), there is nothing to be said.
6. What + a noun. Before a noun, English what is an adjective, and Serbian uses an adjectival pronoun, not шта:
који, која, које — which, what (choosing one): Који је данас дан? What day is it today? Која је ово улица? What street is this? какав, каква, какво — what kind of, what … like: Какав је то филм? What sort of film is it? Какво је време? What's the weather like?
Some English what questions use another word altogether:
Колико је сати? — What time is it? (how many hours) Како се зовеш? — What's your name? (how are you called) Како се каже …? — What's the word for …? (how does one say)
7. Шта and што. In the Serbian standard language, шта is the question word. Што is the relative pronoun (онога што је рекао, 27.15; Lesson 13) and the conjunction (драго ми је што сам могао, 27.13; Lesson 22). In everyday speech, Што? also means why?: Што си љут? Why are you angry? Older texts, Ijekavian speech and the Croatian standard use што as the question word what as well, and the Serbian standard allows it, but in Serbia шта is the normal form.
8. Words built on шта. The same pronoun with a prefix or a particle gives a family of indefinite words. All of them decline like шта: нешто, нечега, нечему, нечим(е).
нешто — something: Ако ти нешто затреба (Lesson 26) ништа — nothing; it needs не with the verb: Не знам ништа. I don't know anything. Ништа (27.18, 27.24) can also stand alone as an answer. свашта — all sorts of things; as an exclamation, Свашта! is the things you hear! било шта — anything (at all): Питај ме било шта. шта год — whatever: Шта год да се деси (27.14), шта год да кажеш (27.27)
With a preposition, ништа splits and the preposition goes in the middle: ни о чему (about nothing), ни од чега (from nothing), ни за шта (for nothing). Не мисли ни о чему: he isn't thinking about anything.
Common Mistakes
The preposition at the end: *Шта причате о? Say О чему причате?
The nominative after a preposition: о шта, од шта. Say о чему, од чега. (За шта, на шта, у шта are correct: these prepositions take the accusative here, and the accusative of шта is шта.)
Шта for what's your name: *Шта је твоје име? is understood but sounds like a translation. Say Како се зовеш? (or, politely, Како се зовете?).
Шта before a noun: *Шта дан је данас? Say Који је данас дан?
Ништа without не: *Знам ништа. Serbian needs both negatives: Не знам ништа.
Шта for the relative: *Купио сам шта си тражио. Say Купио сам оно што си тражио (Lesson 13).
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Шта има? is the everyday greeting among friends: what's up? The expected answer is ништа посебно (nothing special) or ево, ништа, and then the question goes back: А код тебе? (Lesson 26). Like Шта радиш? (Lesson 15), it is a greeting, not a request for news. Шта има ново? asks for news.
A bare Шта? in reply to someone who has spoken is curt, like English What? The polite way to ask someone to repeat is Молим? (Pardon?), the same word as please. Children are taught to answer молим?, not шта?, when an adult speaks to them.
Шта ти је? (27.9), literally what is to you?, asks what's the matter? It is said with concern, but шта ти је, јеси ли луд? (what's got into you, are you mad?) is a reproach.
Нема на чему (27.13), literally there is nothing on which, is the standard reply to хвала: you're welcome, don't mention it. Also heard are молим and, in speech, ма нема проблема.
Шта ћеш (what can you do?, literally what will you?) is the Serbian shrug, said of things that cannot be changed: Шта ћеш, такав је живот. What can you do, that's life. A conversation about politics or prices often ends with it.
Ајвар (27.12) is a relish of roasted red peppers, made at home in the autumn. In September and October, families across Serbia roast peppers over fires in their yards and stir the relish for hours. So Од чега се прави ајвар? has a simple answer: од паприке.
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Matthew 6:31, from the Sermon on the Mount, in Vuk Stefanović Karadžić's translation of the New Testament (Нови завјет, Vienna, 1847), as transcribed on Serbian Wikisource. Vuk's New Testament was the first translation of the Bible into the Serbian vernacular, and it is written in the language of his folk collections: Ijekavian, with the old forms of his time. The verse asks the same question three times, with шта in the accusative twice and once in the instrumental.
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
F.1a Не not брините worry-IMP.PL се REFL дакле therefore говорећи saying шта what-ACC ћемо we-will јести eat-INF или or шта what-ACC ћемо we-will пити drink-INF или or чим what-INST ћемо we-will се REFL одјенути clothe-INF F.1b Ne (neh) not brinite (BREE-nee-te) worry-IMP.PL se (seh) REFL dakle (DA-kle) therefore govoreći (go-VO-re-chee) saying šta (shtah) what-ACC ćemo (CHE-mo) we-will jesti (YES-tee) eat-INF ili (EE-lee) or šta (shtah) what-ACC ćemo (CHE-mo) we-will piti (PEE-tee) drink-INF ili (EE-lee) or čim (cheem) what-INST ćemo (CHE-mo) we-will se (seh) REFL odjenuti (od-YE-noo-tee) clothe-INF
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
Не брините се дакле говорећи: шта ћемо јести, или, шта ћемо пити, или, чим ћемо се одјенути?
"Therefore do not worry, saying: what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or with what shall we be clothed?"
F-C: Original Only
Не брините се дакле говорећи: шта ћемо јести, или, шта ћемо пити, или, чим ћемо се одјенути?
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
Не брините се — the plural imperative of бринути се, to worry, with the negative не: do not worry. A negative command in Serbian is usually the imperfective imperative, as here.
Дакле — therefore, so. It points back to what came before: the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.
Говорећи — the present verbal adverb of говорити, saying, while saying. It is bookish today; speech would use a clause, и не говорите.
Шта ћемо јести, или шта ћемо пити — шта is the object of јести and пити, so it is accusative, which for шта is the same as the nominative. Ћемо + infinitive is the future: what shall we eat? Vuk's commas set off each или, so that the three questions stand apart.
Чим ћемо се одјенути — одјенути се (Ekavian оденути се) is to clothe oneself, and what one dresses in is in the instrumental. So шта becomes чим: with what shall we clothe ourselves? This is the short instrumental of Section D §2, standing without a preposition. Later texts change it to the long form: the modern Ekavian church text reads чиме ћемо се оденути, and an Ijekavian one чиме ћемо се одјенути.
Three questions, three forms of the one word: шта, шта, чим. English needs a preposition to say the third (with what, or what shall we wear); Serbian needs only the ending.
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Part A — Intralinear Construed Text
27.16a Шта what ћеш you-will да to попијеш you-drink Ја I частим I-treat као as што that сам I-am обећао promised-MASC 27.16b Šta (shtah) what ćeš (chesh) you-will da (dah) to popiješ (PO-pee-yesh) you-drink Ja (yah) I častim (CHAS-teem) I-treat kao (KA-o) as što (shto) that sam (sahm) I-am obećao (o-BE-cha-o) promised-MASC
27.17a Чај tea од of нане mint-GEN А and шта what ти you-DAT је is то that у in руци hand-LOC 27.17b Čaj (chai) tea od (od) of nane (NA-ne) mint-GEN A (ah) and šta (shtah) what ti (tee) you-DAT je (yeh) is to (to) that u (oo) in ruci (ROO-tsee) hand-LOC
27.18a Ништа nothing стари old-MASC рачун bill Него anyway шта what кажеш you-say за about филм film-ACC 27.18b Ništa (NEESH-ta) nothing stari (STA-ree) old-MASC račun (RA-choon) bill Nego (NE-go) anyway šta (shtah) what kažeš (KA-zhesh) you-say za (zah) about film (feelm) film-ACC
27.19a Искрено honestly нисам I-am-not баш really разумела understood-FEM о about чему what-LOC је is био been-MASC 27.19b Iskreno (EES-kre-no) honestly nisam (NEE-sahm) I-am-not baš (bahsh) really razumela (ra-ZOO-me-la) understood-FEM o (o) about čemu (CHE-moo) what-LOC je (yeh) is bio (BEE-o) been-MASC
27.20a Како how то that Шта what ниси you-are-not разумела understood-FEM 27.20b Kako (KA-ko) how to (to) that Šta (shtah) what nisi (NEE-see) you-are-not razumela (ra-ZOO-me-la) understood-FEM
27.21a Чега what-GEN се REFL онај that-MASC старац old-man толико so-much плашио feared-MASC И and шта what је is било been-NEUT у in оној that-LOC.FEM кутији box-LOC 27.21b Čega (CHE-ga) what-GEN se (seh) REFL onaj (O-nai) that-MASC starac (STA-rats) old-man toliko (TO-lee-ko) so-much plašio (PLA-shee-o) feared-MASC I (ee) and šta (shtah) what je (yeh) is bilo (BEE-lo) been-NEUT u (oo) in onoj (O-noy) that-LOC.FEM kutiji (KOO-tee-yee) box-LOC
27.22a Шта what мислиш you-think Самог own-GEN себе self-GEN 27.22b Šta (shtah) what misliš (MEE-sleesh) you-think Samog (SA-mog) own-GEN sebe (SE-be) self-GEN
27.23a А and кутија box Шта what је is било been-NEUT у in њој it-LOC.FEM 27.23b A (ah) and kutija (KOO-tee-ya) box Šta (shtah) what je (yeh) is bilo (BEE-lo) been-NEUT u (oo) in njoj (nyoy) it-LOC.FEM
27.24a Ништа nothing Била been-FEM је is празна empty-FEM и and то that је is цела whole-FEM поента point 27.24b Ništa (NEESH-ta) nothing Bila (BEE-la) been-FEM je (yeh) is prazna (PRAZ-na) empty-FEM i (ee) and to (to) that je (yeh) is cela (TSE-la) whole-FEM poenta (po-EN-ta) point
27.25a Празна empty-FEM Па well чему what-DAT онда then цела whole-FEM прича story 27.25b Prazna (PRAZ-na) empty-FEM Pa (pah) well čemu (CHE-moo) what-DAT onda (ON-da) then cela (TSE-la) whole-FEM priča (PREE-cha) story
27.26a Чему what-DAT Да so-that видиш you-see шта what човек man ради does кад when мисли he-thinks да that има he-has шта what да to изгуби he-loses 27.26b Čemu (CHE-moo) what-DAT Da (dah) so-that vidiš (VEE-deesh) you-see šta (shtah) what čovek (CHO-vek) man radi (RA-dee) does kad (kad) when misli (MEE-slee) he-thinks da (dah) that ima (EE-ma) he-has šta (shtah) what da (dah) to izgubi (EEZ-goo-bee) he-loses
27.27a Звучи it-sounds паметно clever-ADV Али but шта what год ever да that кажеш you-say ја I сам am дошла come-FEM због because-of кокица popcorn-GEN.PL 27.27b Zvuči (ZVOO-chee) it-sounds pametno (PA-met-no) clever-ADV Ali (A-lee) but šta (shtah) what god (god) ever da (dah) that kažeš (KA-zhesh) you-say ja (yah) I sam (sahm) am došla (DOSH-la) come-FEM zbog (zbog) because-of kokica (KO-kee-tsa) popcorn-GEN.PL
27.28a Шта what Ти you ниси you-are-not гледала watched-FEM филм film-ACC 27.28b Šta (shtah) what Ti (tee) you nisi (NEE-see) you-are-not gledala (GLE-da-la) watched-FEM film (feelm) film-ACC
27.29a Гледала watched-FEM сам I-am али but сам I-am после after пола half сата hour-GEN заспала fallen-asleep-FEM Шта what да to радим I-do кад when су are седишта seats тако so удобна comfortable-NEUT.PL 27.29b Gledala (GLE-da-la) watched-FEM sam (sahm) I-am ali (A-lee) but sam (sahm) I-am posle (POS-le) after pola (PO-la) half sata (SA-ta) hour-GEN zaspala (ZA-spa-la) fallen-asleep-FEM Šta (shtah) what da (dah) to radim (RA-deem) I-do kad (kad) when su (soo) are sedišta (SE-deesh-ta) seats tako (TA-ko) so udobna (OO-dob-na) comfortable-NEUT.PL
27.30a Е well онда then следећи next-ACC пут time-ACC ти you частиш you-treat Шта what кажеш you-say 27.30b E (eh) well onda (ON-da) then sledeći (SLE-de-chee) next-ACC put (poot) time-ACC ti (tee) you častiš (CHAS-teesh) you-treat Šta (shtah) what kažeš (KA-zhesh) you-say
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Part B — Natural Sentences
27.16 — Шта ћеш да попијеш? Ја частим, као што сам обећао. "What will you have? It's on me, as I promised."
27.17 — Чај од нане. А шта ти је то у руци? "Mint tea. And what's that in your hand?"
27.18 — Ништа, стари рачун. Него, шта кажеш за филм? "Nothing, an old receipt. Anyway, what did you think of the film?"
27.19 — Искрено, нисам баш разумела о чему је био. "To be honest, I didn't really understand what it was about."
27.20 — Како то? Шта ниси разумела? "How come? What didn't you understand?"
27.21 — Чега се онај старац толико плашио? И шта је било у оној кутији? "What was that old man so afraid of? And what was in that box?"
27.22 — Шта мислиш? Самог себе. "What do you think? Himself."
27.23 — А кутија? Шта је било у њој? "And the box? What was in it?"
27.24 — Ништа. Била је празна, и то је цела поента. "Nothing. It was empty, and that's the whole point."
27.25 — Празна? Па чему онда цела прича? "Empty? Then what was the whole story for?"
27.26 — Чему? Да видиш шта човек ради кад мисли да има шта да изгуби. "What for? So you can see what a man does when he thinks he has something to lose."
27.27 — Звучи паметно. Али шта год да кажеш, ја сам дошла због кокица. "Sounds clever. But whatever you say, I came for the popcorn."
27.28 — Шта? Ти ниси гледала филм? "What? You weren't watching the film?"
27.29 — Гледала сам, али сам после пола сата заспала. Шта да радим кад су седишта тако удобна? "I was, but I fell asleep after half an hour. What can I do when the seats are so comfortable?"
27.30 — Е, онда следећи пут ти частиш. Шта кажеш? "Well then, next time it's on you. What do you say?"
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Part C — Target Language Only
27.16 — Шта ћеш да попијеш? Ја частим, као што сам обећао.
27.17 — Чај од нане. А шта ти је то у руци?
27.18 — Ништа, стари рачун. Него, шта кажеш за филм?
27.19 — Искрено, нисам баш разумела о чему је био.
27.20 — Како то? Шта ниси разумела?
27.21 — Чега се онај старац толико плашио? И шта је било у оној кутији?
27.22 — Шта мислиш? Самог себе.
27.23 — А кутија? Шта је било у њој?
27.24 — Ништа. Била је празна, и то је цела поента.
27.25 — Празна? Па чему онда цела прича?
27.26 — Чему? Да видиш шта човек ради кад мисли да има шта да изгуби.
27.27 — Звучи паметно. Али шта год да кажеш, ја сам дошла због кокица.
27.28 — Шта? Ти ниси гледала филм?
27.29 — Гледала сам, али сам после пола сата заспала. Шта да радим кад су седишта тако удобна?
27.30 — Е, онда следећи пут ти частиш. Шта кажеш?
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Part D — Grammar Notes for the Dialogue
Marija and Nenad, from Lessons 25 and 26, are in the café by the bridge after the film, and Nenad is paying, as he promised in 26.27. Nenad speaks first; Marija answers. Almost every line asks or answers a question with шта or one of its case forms.
Шта ћеш да попијеш? (27.16) — ћеш да + present is the future, as common in speech as ћеш + infinitive (шта ћеш попити?). Као што сам обећао — као што, as, uses the relative што, not шта.
Шта ти је то у руци? (27.17) — the dative ти marks the person something belongs to or happens to: literally what is that to you in the hand? Compare Шта ти је? (27.9).
Ништа, стари рачун (27.18) — ништа alone, as an answer, needs no не. Него here is colloquial anyway, so, used to change the subject. Шта кажеш за филм? — за + accusative, about: what do you say about the film?
О чему је био (27.19) — an indirect question with the preposition in front: о чему, never шта … о.
Чега се онај старац толико плашио? (27.21) — плашити се takes the genitive, like бојати се (27.4), so the question is чега? and the answer in 27.22 is genitive too: самог себе, (of) himself. Шта је било — шта is neuter, so the past participle is neuter: било.
Чему онда цела прича? (27.25) — чему alone, with no verb, asks what for, what's the point of: Чему то? What's that for? Nenad picks up the word in 27.26 and answers it.
Има шта да изгуби (27.26) — има шта да + present: he has something to lose (Section D §5). Two clauses earlier, шта човек ради is an indirect question. The same word plays two roles in one line.
Шта год да кажеш (27.27) — whatever you say: шта год + да + present. Због кокица — због takes the genitive; кокице is plural (Lesson 26), so the genitive is кокица.
Шта? (27.28) — the bare шта? of surprise, between brother and sister. To a stranger, Молим? (Section E).
Шта да радим (27.29) — шта да + present: what am I to do?, here a shrug, not a real question.
Шта кажеш? (27.30) — what do you say?: a proposal waiting for an answer. Compare 27.3 and 27.18, where the same words ask for an opinion.
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шта (šta): shtah, one syllable [ʃta]. Ш is English sh, and шт is one cluster, as in ashtray. Do not put a vowel between them.
што (što): shto [ʃto]. The vowel is the only difference from шта. Say them in turn: шта (what?), што (that, which, why).
чега, чему, чиме, чим (čega, čemu, čime, čim): CHE-ga, CHE-moo, CHEE-me, cheem. Ч is the hard ch [tʃ] of church, with the tongue tip raised. It is not the soft ћ [tɕ] of ћемо.
ћемо, ћеш (ćemo, ćeš): CHE-mo, chesh. Ћ is the soft ch [tɕ], made with the front of the tongue against the palate. In F.1 you hear ч and ћ close together: чим ћемо [tʃim tɕemo].
ништа, нешто (ništa, nešto): NEESH-ta, NESH-to. Stress on the first syllable.
одјенути (odjenuti): od-YE-noo-tee. Дј is two sounds, д + ј, across the prefix од-, not the single sound ђ.
ајвар (ajvar): AI-var. Ај as in English eye.
поента (poenta): po-EN-ta. The vowels о and е stay separate.
седишта (sedišta): SE-deesh-ta. Again the шт cluster.
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Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)