The nominative case is the base form. Answers the questions who? what? Used for subjects of sentences.
Ovo je moj pasoš
This is my passport
Literal: This is my passport
Note: Subject in nominative — the base dictionary form
Banka je zatvorena
The bank is closed
Literal: Bank is closed (feminine)
Note: 'Banka' is feminine in Serbian (unlike many other languages)
Stan je veliki
The apartment is big
Literal: Apartment is big (masculine)
Note: 'Stan' (apartment) is masculine in Serbian
The genitive case follows prepositions 'iz' (from), 'od' (of), 'bez' (without), 'do' (to). Used for possession and quantity.
Ja sam iz Rusije
I am from Russia
Literal: I am from Russia (genitive)
Note: 'Rusija' → 'Rusije' in genitive (feminine -a → -e)
Čaša vode
A glass of water
Literal: Glass of-water
Note: 'Voda' → 'vode' — genitive for quantity (a glass of water)
Bez šećera
Without sugar
Literal: Without sugar (genitive)
Note: 'Šećer' → 'šećera' in genitive (masculine adds -a)
Do centra grada
To the city center
Literal: To center of-city
Note: Both words in genitive — 'centar' → 'centra', 'grad' → 'grada'
The accusative case marks the direct object. The most common case after nominative.
Učim srpski jezik
I'm learning Serbian
Literal: (I) learn Serbian language
Note: Masculine inanimate accusative = nominative (no change)
Vidim crkvu
I see a church
Literal: (I) see church (accusative)
Note: 'Crkva' → 'crkvu' in accusative (feminine -a → -u)
Tražim apoteku
I'm looking for a pharmacy
Literal: (I) seek pharmacy (accusative)
Note: 'Apoteka' → 'apoteku' — feminine -a → -u pattern
Dative (to whom?) and locative (where?) share the same endings. Locative follows prepositions 'u' (in) and 'na' (on).
Živim u Beogradu
I live in Belgrade
Literal: (I) live in Belgrade (locative)
Note: 'Beograd' → 'Beogradu' in locative (masculine adds -u)
Dajte mi, molim
Give me, please
Literal: Give to-me, please
Note: 'Mi' — short dative form meaning 'to me'
Radim u kancelariji
I work in an office
Literal: (I) work in office (locative)
Note: 'Kancelarija' → 'kancelariji' in locative (feminine -a → -i)
Treba mi pomoć
I need help
Literal: Needed to-me help
Note: 'Mi' is dative, 'pomoć' stays in nominative — 'help is needed to-me'
The instrumental case — 'with whom?', 'with what?'. Used after the preposition 'sa' (with).
Kafa sa mlekom
Coffee with milk
Literal: Coffee with milk (instrumental)
Note: 'Mleko' → 'mlekom' — neuter instrumental adds -om
Idem sa drugom
I'm going with a friend
Literal: (I) go with friend (instrumental)
Note: 'Drug' → 'drugom' — masculine instrumental ending -om
Idem kolima
I'm going by car
Literal: (I) go by-cars (instrumental plural)
Note: 'Kola' is always plural, 'kolima' — plural instrumental