Questions & Answers about Tarifa i iznos su na računu.
Why is the verb su used here, even though tarifa and iznos are both singular nouns?
Because together they form a compound subject: tarifa i iznos = the tariff/rate and the amount.
Even though each noun is singular by itself, the whole subject is plural, so Serbian uses the plural form of to be:
- je = is
- su = are
So:
- Tarifa je na računu. = The tariff/rate is on the bill.
- Iznos je na računu. = The amount is on the bill.
- Tarifa i iznos su na računu. = The tariff/rate and the amount are on the bill.
What case are tarifa and iznos in?
They are in the nominative case, because they are the subject of the sentence.
The subject is the thing that is somewhere:
- tarifa = the tariff/rate
- iznos = the amount
Since they are the ones being talked about, they stay in nominative:
- tarifa
- iznos
Why is it na računu and not na račun?
Because after na when it means location (on, in, at), Serbian uses the locative case.
So:
- račun = nominative/base form
- na računu = on the bill / on the invoice / on the account
Compare the general pattern:
- na stolu = on the table
- na slici = in the picture / on the picture
- na računu = on the bill/invoice/account
If na expresses movement toward something, it usually takes the accusative. But here there is no movement; it is just location.
What exactly is the form računu?
Računu is the locative singular form of račun.
The noun račun is masculine, and in this sentence it changes because it comes after na in a location meaning.
So:
- račun = account / bill / invoice / check / calculation
- na računu = on the account / on the bill / on the invoice
This kind of ending is very common for masculine nouns in the locative singular.
Why is na used here? Why not u?
Because Serbian often uses na with things like documents, pages, surfaces, lists, screens, and similar contexts where English may say on or sometimes even in.
So na računu is the natural Serbian expression for something being on the bill/invoice/account statement.
Some useful comparisons:
- na papiru = on the paper
- na stranici = on the page
- na ekranu = on the screen
- na računu = on the bill / on the account
Using u računu would usually not sound natural in this meaning.
Does Serbian have the word the here? How do we know it means the tariff and the amount?
Serbian has no articles like English a/an/the.
So:
- tarifa can mean a tariff, the tariff
- iznos can mean an amount, the amount
- račun can mean a bill, the bill, depending on context
In real use, context tells you whether English should use a or the.
So Tarifa i iznos su na računu could be understood as:
- The tariff and the amount are on the bill
- or, depending on context, A tariff and an amount are on the bill
But in most practical situations, English would probably use the.
What does račun mean exactly? Is it always bill?
No. Račun is a very common Serbian word with several meanings depending on context. It can mean:
- bill
- invoice
- check (in a restaurant)
- account
- calculation
So na računu could mean different things depending on the situation:
- on the bill
- on the invoice
- on the account statement
- in the account balance context
That is why context matters a lot with račun.
What is the difference between tarifa and iznos?
They are related, but not the same.
- tarifa = the rate, tariff, pricing category, or plan
- iznos = the amount, usually the numerical sum of money
So in a bill or invoice context:
- tarifa may refer to the type of charge or rate
- iznos is the actual amount charged
For example, one is more like the pricing label or rate, and the other is the sum.
Can the word order be changed?
Yes. Serbian word order is more flexible than English word order.
The neutral order here is:
- Tarifa i iznos su na računu.
But depending on emphasis, you could also hear:
- Na računu su tarifa i iznos.
That version puts more focus on where they are: On the bill are the tariff and the amount.
Even though word order can change, the cases and verb form help show what the sentence means.
Could the verb su be left out?
In a full standard sentence like this, su is normally kept.
- Tarifa i iznos su na računu. = full sentence
Without su:
- Tarifa i iznos na računu
this sounds more like a heading, note, label, or incomplete phrase, not a normal complete sentence.
So if you want a regular statement, keep su.
Why isn’t there a pronoun like oni for they?
Because Serbian usually does not need subject pronouns when the subject is already clearly stated.
The subject is already present:
- Tarifa i iznos
So adding oni would be unnecessary.
Serbian often omits pronouns unless they are needed for contrast or emphasis.
What genders are these nouns, and does gender matter here?
Yes, they have grammatical gender:
- tarifa = feminine
- iznos = masculine
- račun = masculine
In this sentence, gender matters less than number, because the verb agrees with the whole subject tarifa i iznos, which is plural.
That is why the verb is su, regardless of the fact that one noun is feminine and the other is masculine.
How would this sentence be written in Cyrillic?
It would be:
Тарифа и износ су на рачуну.
Serbian normally uses both scripts, Latin and Cyrillic, and this sentence means the same in either one.
Letter-by-letter here:
- Tarifa → Тарифа
- i → и
- iznos → износ
- su → су
- na računu → на рачуну
How is računu pronounced?
A simple English-friendly approximation is:
RAH-choo-noo
More carefully:
- č sounds like ch in church
- u is like oo in food
So:
- račun ≈ RAH-choon
- računu ≈ RAH-choo-noo
Also, r in Serbian is rolled or tapped more than in standard English.
Is i just the normal word for and?
Yes. I is the basic Serbian word for and.
So:
- tarifa i iznos = tariff/rate and amount
It is one of the most common words in the language. Be careful not to confuse it with English I; in Serbian, i is a conjunction, not a pronoun.
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