If you want to ask Yes/No questions in Serbian always start with 'DA LI', no matter what tense. For the Present Tense use this word order:
Let me add the word order commonly used in colloquial speech:
Exercise: Make 6 Yes/No questions about Ivan. The answers are in the first comment, because Ivan doesn't feel like recording his own voice right now :o(
- Da li (+Subject if it is necessary, or cannot be inferred from the conjugation) + Verb ... Example: Da li Ivan živi u Novom Sadu? Da li živimo u Novom Sadu?
- Da li + Verb TO BE (+ S ) Example: Da li si u Parizu? Da li si ti Ivan?
- Da li + se (+ S) + Verb in case of verbs with reflexive pronoun 'se' ... Example: Da li se on zove Ivan? Da li se budiš u pet ili u šest?
Let me add the word order commonly used in colloquial speech:
- Živi li Ivan u Novom Sadu ? - Verb + li + (S)
- Jesi li u Parizu ? - To be (only the full forms: jesam/jesi/jeste/jesmo/jeste/jesu) + li + (S) ...
- Zoveš li se Ivan ? - Verb + li + se + (S) / Jel' + se +(S) + Verb
Exercise: Make 6 Yes/No questions about Ivan. The answers are in the first comment, because Ivan doesn't feel like recording his own voice right now :o(
Yes-or-no questions do not need a new voice or complicated inversion in Serbian. They need a clear signal. The safest signal is da li; the shorter li pattern becomes useful when your ear is ready for it.
Three routes to a yes-or-no answer
Use da li before the verb phrase: Da li radiš? With a reflexive verb, se follows it: Da li se odmaraš? In shorter questions, attach li to the first verb: Radiš li? With biti, use the full form: Jesi li spreman? In careful writing, avoid relying on colloquial jel’ until you can recognise the standard patterns.
Five answers waiting for yes or no
| Latinica | Ćirilica | English |
|---|---|---|
| Da li sutra radiš? | Да ли сутра радиш? | Are you working tomorrow? |
| Jesi li već kod kuće? | Јеси ли већ код куће? | Are you at home already? |
| Da li se deca igraju napolju? | Да ли се деца играју напољу? | Are the children playing outside? |
| Voliš li domaću kafu? | Волиш ли домаћу кафу? | Do you like Serbian-style coffee? |
| Da li ste videli novu izložbu? | Да ли сте видели нову изложбу? | Have you seen the new exhibition? |
Ask twice, but change the route
Take one statement, such as Ivan živi u Novom Sadu. Ask about it first with da li, then with li. Repeat with a reflexive verb and listen carefully to the position of se.
Ivan will answer only clear questions
- Turn into a question with da li: Ivan radi danas.
- Reorder: se / da li / zoveš / Ana.
- Make a short question: Ti voliš čaj.
- Choose: Jesi li / Si li umoran?
- Ask whether they arrived yesterday.
Questions Ivan can answer
- Da li Ivan radi danas?
- Da li se zoveš Ana?
- Voliš li čaj?
- Jesi li umoran?
- Da li su stigli juče? / Да ли су стигли јуче?