Snabdevač i potrošač su proverili račun.

The supplier and consumer checked the bill.

Breakdown of Snabdevač i potrošač su proverili račun.

• biti: to be
• i: and
• račun: bill
• proveriti: to check

Questions & Answers about Snabdevač i potrošač su proverili račun.

Why is it su proverili and not just one verb form?

In Serbian, the past tense is usually made with:

• the present tense of biti (to be)
  +
• the l-participle of the main verb

So here:

• su = they are / auxiliary part of the past tense
• proverili = past participle form of proveriti (to check, verify)

Together, su proverili means checked.

This is very common in Serbian:

• Ja sam video = I saw
• Oni su došli = They came
• Mi smo pročitali = We read / have read

So Snabdevač i potrošač su proverili račun literally has the structure Supplier and consumer are checked bill, but naturally means The supplier and the consumer checked the bill/account.

Why is the verb form proverili plural?

Because the subject has two people/things joined by i (and):

• snabdevač = supplier
• potrošač = consumer

Together, they form a plural subject, so the verb must also be plural.

That is why Serbian uses:

• su = plural auxiliary
• proverili = plural masculine/mixed-gender past participle

If there were only one subject, you would get singular:

• = The supplier checked the bill/account.