Questions & Answers about Ovaj deo je mali.
Why is it ovaj and not ova or ovo?
Because ovaj has to agree with deo in gender, number, and case.
- deo is a masculine singular noun
- the sentence uses the nominative case, because deo is the subject
- so the correct form is ovaj
Compare:
- ovaj deo = this part (masculine)
- ova knjiga = this book (feminine)
- ovo selo = this village (neuter)
So ovaj is simply the masculine nominative singular form of this.
What case is deo in here?
It is in the nominative singular.
In Ovaj deo je mali, ovaj deo is the subject of the sentence: This part. Subjects normally appear in the nominative case in Serbian.
So:
- ovaj = nominative masculine singular
- deo = nominative singular
They match because they belong together as one noun phrase.
Why is it mali?
Because adjectives in Serbian also have to agree with the noun they describe.
Since deo is:
- masculine