Lesson 66. Negation and Genitive
Rule
Imam brata. (Имам брата.)
— I have a brother. (acc. animate)
Nemam brata. (Немам брата.)
— I don't have a brother. (gen.)
The forms look the same because animate accusative = genitive. But the logic is different: Serbian always uses the genitive with negation.
Impersonal nema
Nema hleba. (Нема хлеба.)
— There is no bread.
Nema vode. (Нема воде.)
— There is no water.
Nema problema. (Нема проблема.)
— There are no problems.
Exercises
Exercise 1
"There is no milk":
Show explanation
Exercise 2
Translate: “I don’t have a sister. There is no time.”
Show answer
Nemam sestre. Nema vremena.
Lesson vocabulary
- problem проблем
- problem
- vremena времена
- time (gen.)