In this beginner Serbian lesson, you will learn how to identify people and things with ovo je (this is) and how to make the sentence negative with ovo nije (this is not). The structure is simple, practical and a perfect way to revise the present tense of biti (to be).

Ovo je and ovo nije

Serbian for beginners, lesson 2:

If you successfully completed the previous lesson and exercises jedan (one) and dva (two), you are ready for the following lesson on the phrases “This is…” and “This isn't…”. Watch the video exercise and try to work out:
  1. what "OVO" means ?
  2. what is the negative form of "JE" ?


Answers:


1. Ovo means “this”. In ovo je, it introduces one person or thing; in ovo su, it can introduce several.
2. The negative form of je (is) is nije (is not).
Let's do a few exercises then:
1. Watch the video and try to give the answers while listening to me saying these sentences