Start aloud with “Sastajemo se u tihom dvorištu.”; then let “Razmišljam o zanimljivom predlogu.” change the speaker, setting or intention. Serbian becomes usable through contrasts like these.

Before we start working on Serbian adjective suffixes in the Locative case, let's listen to this beautiful song, where you'll get acquainted with one of the suffixes and learn it without thinking much about grammar:

U Novom Sadu,
u Novom Sadu hej
u Novom Sadu hej
ostadoh kraj tebe
(2x)
Ref. 2x
Oj Jelena oj Jelice
zagrli me, polubi me
Kraj tamburaša
i dobrog vina hej
u Novom Sadu hej
ostadoh zbog tebe
(2x)
Ref. 2x
Čim zora svane
i sunce grane hej
u Novom Sadu hej
šaljem ti poljubce.
(2x)
Ref. 2x
U Novom Sadu
u Novom Sadu hej
ostaću kraj tebe
moj slatki Anđele
(2x)
Ref. 2x

Now, let's try to do the following exercise:

U Starom Gradu, Na Visokoj Planini

After u, na and o, an adjective must follow the noun into the locative. Compare masculine and neuter -om or -em with feminine -oj, and treat the adjective–noun pair as one unit whenever you describe a place or topic.

Latin scriptCyrillic scriptEnglish
Sastajemo se u tihom dvorištu.Састајемо се у тихом дворишту.We are meeting in the quiet courtyard.
Razmišljam o zanimljivom predlogu.Размишљам о занимљивом предлогу.I am thinking about an interesting proposal.
Na kamenoj klupi sedi stariji čovek.На каменој клупи седи старији човек.An older man is sitting on the stone bench.
Deca pričaju o omiljenoj učiteljici.Деца причају о омиљеној учитељици.The children are talking about their favourite teacher.
U severnom delu grada nema gužve.У северном делу града нема гужве.There is no crowd in the northern part of the city.

Adjectives Enter the Locative Together with Nouns

Turn “Sastajemo se u tihom dvorištu.” into a question. Let “Razmišljam o zanimljivom predlogu.” supply the reply, then alter “Na kamenoj klupi sedi stariji čovek.” so that it becomes personally true.

Five Descriptions Anchored in Place

Finish with “Deca pričaju o omiljenoj učiteljici.” and “U severnom delu grada nema gužve.”. One should become a short dialogue; the other should be recorded twice, with clearer rhythm and more confident recall on the second attempt.

Complete Every Locative Pair

Translate all five meanings without copying. Use “Razmišljam o zanimljivom predlogu.” only as a final reference point, and supply both Serbian scripts before checking the complete answers.

  1. We are meeting in the quiet courtyard.
  2. I am thinking about an interesting proposal.
  3. An older man is sitting on the stone bench.
  4. The children are talking about their favourite teacher.
  5. There is no crowd in the northern part of the city.

Answers and both Serbian scripts

  1. Sastajemo se u tihom dvorištu.
    Састајемо се у тихом дворишту.
  2. Razmišljam o zanimljivom predlogu.
    Размишљам о занимљивом предлогу.
  3. Na kamenoj klupi sedi stariji čovek.
    На каменој клупи седи старији човек.
  4. Deca pričaju o omiljenoj učiteljici.
    Деца причају о омиљеној учитељици.
  5. U severnom delu grada nema gužve.
    У северном делу града нема гужве.