Kašnjenje je veliki problem.

to be

Breakdown of Kašnjenje je veliki problem.

• velik: big
• problem: problem
• kašnjenje: a delay

Questions & Answers about Kašnjenje je veliki problem.

Is kašnjenje a verb here, or a noun?

It is a noun here.

Kašnjenje means delay, lateness, or being late, depending on context. It is formed from the verb kasniti (to be late / to run late), but in this sentence it functions as a regular noun.

So grammatically, the sentence is built like:

Kašnjenje = the subject
je = is
veliki problem = the predicate noun phrase

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What exactly is je?

Je is the 3rd person singular present form of biti (to be).

So:

• ja sam = I am
• ti si = you are
• on/ona/ono je = he/she/it is

In this sentence, je simply means is.

Serbian often uses this short form in normal statements:

• Kašnjenje je problem. = Delay is a problem.

The fuller form jeste also exists, but it is usually used for emphasis or contrast:

• Kašnjenje jeste problem. = Delay really is a problem.

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Why is je placed after the first word?

Because is a in Serbian. Clitics are short unstressed words that usually go in in the sentence or clause.