Adjectives describing Masculine nouns in Sg (Singular) take no endings (on je bogat), while the same adjectives describing Fem. Sg nouns take -a (ona je bogata), while with singular Neuter nouns the ending is -o (bogato selo). Plural, masc. adj. take an -i ending (ljudi su bogati), fem. adj. take -e (žene su lepe), and neuter adj. take -a (deca su visoka). In some cases, there are some changes in pronunciation, with adjectives ending in -N, or -K, for example (on je gladan - ona je gladna) - but there will be a special post on that subject.
For the sake of clarity, let's do a simple exercise with adjectives which have no pronunciation changes. The answer key is in the comment. If you want me to record the answer, just drop me a line.
A Short Adjective Story:
Andrew is tall. He is very handsome. His wife Lilly is also tall and pretty. They have a son, called Tom. He is very good. They are now at home. Their house is big, because they are rich. Their dog Ava is very old and lazy.
Listen for the contrast before naming the rule. An adjective becomes memorable when it describes somebody you can imagine rather than standing alone in a vocabulary list.
Follow the compass inside characteristics in context
An adjective becomes memorable when it describes somebody you can imagine rather than standing alone in a vocabulary list. Picture the scene before choosing an ending. Read the Serbian examples as complete thoughts, not as containers for isolated vocabulary. Notice which word changes the meaning most strongly, and allow the surrounding words to show its grammatical job.
Five spoken lines for characteristics in context
| Latinica | Ćirilica | English |
|---|---|---|
| Moj novi komšija je tih i ljubazan. | Мој нови комшија је тих и љубазан. | My new neighbour is quiet and kind. |
| Vesela devojčica nosi crvenu kapu. | Весела девојчица носи црвену капу. | A cheerful girl is wearing a red hat. |
| Njihov pas je pametan, ali nestašan. | Њихов пас је паметан, али несташан. | Their dog is clever but mischievous. |
| Strpljiva učiteljica pažljivo sluša učenike. | Стрпљива учитељица пажљиво слуша ученике. | The patient teacher listens carefully to the pupils. |
| Naš vodič deluje ozbiljno i pouzdano. | Наш водич делује озбиљно и поуздано. | Our guide seems serious and reliable. |
A mirror from recognition to speech with characteristics in context
Move from Moj novi komšija je tih i ljubazan. towards Naš vodič deluje ozbiljno i pouzdano., but stop at the sentence that feels least comfortable. Cover the english and recover the serbian, and then use that thought as the beginning of a two-line exchange. Tomorrow, return through a different sentence so that the order of the table cannot do the remembering for you.
Five moves before the rhythm disappears from characteristics in context
- Translate into English: Moj novi komšija je tih i ljubazan.
- Rebuild in Serbian from memory: “A cheerful girl is wearing a red hat.”
- Write the third sentence in Cyrillic without copying it.
- Change one detail in Strpljiva učiteljica pažljivo sluša učenike. and keep the sentence grammatical.
- Create a new question connected with Naš vodič deluje ozbiljno i pouzdano..
Check the trail you have made through characteristics in context
- My new neighbour is quiet and kind.
- Vesela devojčica nosi crvenu kapu. / Весела девојчица носи црвену капу.
- Њихов пас је паметан, али несташан.
- Answers vary; the changed word must still agree with the rest of the sentence.
- Answers vary; keep the question directly connected with the situation.