Listen for the contrast between “Najpre se junak vraća u rodno mesto.” and “Ubrzo zatim sreće prijatelja iz detinjstva.”. Their forms become memorable when you connect them with a speaker, purpose and situation.

In Serbian 301 one is practicing to confidently ask and answer questions about some past tense events. This can be practiced in different ways:

Additionally, you can also practice telling a story based on a suitable song. Let's take Kristing by Zdravko Čolić, for example!

Retelling Story in Serbian - Song 


Retelling Story in Serbian

For the sake of understanding here comes a page with the lyrics translation (not the perfect one, though, but you'll get the gist) and now you can practice retelling the story with the following set of exercises:







Retelling Story by asking questions

Now that you know what has actually happen, can you add your questions in the comments below?
Let me start with just a few:
  1. Kada je Zdravko išao na salaš?
  2. Gde je bio salaš?
  3. Šta sve znači "društvo"?
  4. Ko je stajao na vratima?
  5. Šta je petrolejka?

Retell the Story without Copying Its Sentences

Focus on organising a retelling with sequence, viewpoint and reported events. Contrast “Najpre se junak vraća u rodno mesto.” with “Ubrzo zatim sreće prijatelja iz detinjstva.”, identify the form carrying the main information, and say both sentences without translating word by word.

Choose the Events That Move the Plot

Turn “Prijatelj mu otkriva zašto je kuća napuštena.” into a question, then answer it with information from your own life. Write the final exchange in both Serbian scripts.

Latin scriptCyrillic scriptEnglish
Najpre se junak vraća u rodno mesto.Најпре се јунак враћа у родно место.First the hero returns to his birthplace.
Ubrzo zatim sreće prijatelja iz detinjstva.Убрзо затим среће пријатеља из детињства.Soon afterwards he meets a childhood friend.
Prijatelj mu otkriva zašto je kuća napuštena.Пријатељ му открива зашто је кућа напуштена.The friend reveals why the house was abandoned.
Međutim, obojica pogrešno tumače pronađeno pismo.Међутим, обојица погрешно тумаче пронађено писмо.However, both of them misinterpret the letter they find.
Na kraju pripovedač ostavlja tajnu nerešenu.На крају приповедач оставља тајну нерешену.In the end the narrator leaves the mystery unresolved.

Five Connectors for a Clear Serbian Retelling

Rebuild “Međutim, obojica pogrešno tumače pronađeno pismo.” from its English meaning, but adapt “Na kraju pripovedač ostavlja tajnu nerešenu.” freely. The two results should sound connected to real communication, not to a grammar list.

Tell the Ending from a Different Viewpoint

Reconstruct all five Serbian sentences from English. Use “Najpre se junak vraća u rodno mesto.” as your first accuracy check only after writing the full set in Latin and Cyrillic.

  1. First the hero returns to his birthplace.
  2. Soon afterwards he meets a childhood friend.
  3. The friend reveals why the house was abandoned.
  4. However, both of them misinterpret the letter they find.
  5. In the end the narrator leaves the mystery unresolved.

Solutions prepared for Serbian 301 - Retelling Story

  1. Najpre se junak vraća u rodno mesto.
    Најпре се јунак враћа у родно место.
  2. Ubrzo zatim sreće prijatelja iz detinjstva.
    Убрзо затим среће пријатеља из детињства.
  3. Prijatelj mu otkriva zašto je kuća napuštena.
    Пријатељ му открива зашто је кућа напуштена.
  4. Međutim, obojica pogrešno tumače pronađeno pismo.
    Међутим, обојица погрешно тумаче пронађено писмо.
  5. Na kraju pripovedač ostavlja tajnu nerešenu.
    На крају приповедач оставља тајну нерешену.