Čitam priču.

I am reading a story.

Breakdown of Čitam priču.

• čitati: to read
• priča: a story

Questions & Answers about Čitam priču.

Why is there no separate word for I in Čitam priču?

In Serbian, the verb ending often already tells you who the subject is.

• čitam = I read / I am reading
• The ending -am here shows 1st person singular: I

So Serbian often drops the pronoun ja (I) because it is already understood.

You could say:

• Ja čitam priču.

But that usually adds emphasis, like:

• I’m reading the story.

Without ja, the sentence sounds more neutral and natural in many situations.

What form is čitam?

Čitam is the present tense, first person singular form of the verb čitati (to read).

A very basic breakdown:

• čitati = infinitive, to read
• čitam = I read / I am reading

This verb is imperfective, which means it usually describes:

• an ongoing action
• a repeated action
• a general/habitual action

So čitam can mean things like:

• I am reading
• I read
• I’ve been reading
  depending on context.