Čitam prevod.

I am reading the translation.

Breakdown of Čitam prevod.

• čitati: to read
• prevod: a translation

Questions & Answers about Čitam prevod.

Why is there no word for I in Čitam prevod?

Because Serbian often drops subject pronouns when they are not needed.

The verb čitam already tells you the subject is I, because the ending -am marks 1st person singular.

So:

• Čitam prevod. = I am reading / I read a translation.
• Ja čitam prevod. also works, but ja is usually added only for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

For example:

• Ja čitam prevod, a on piše komentar.
  I am reading the translation, and he is writing the comment.

What form is čitam exactly?

Čitam is the 1st person singular present tense of the verb čitati, which means to read.

So the pattern is:

• čitam = I read / I am reading
• čitaš = you read
• čita = he/she/it reads
• čitamo = we read
• čitate = you (plural/formal) read
• čitaju = they read

In this sentence, čitam is the verb and tells you who is doing the action.

Does čitam mean I read or I am reading?