Questions & Answers about Ovo je važan korak.
What does ovo mean, and why is it used here?
Ovo means this.
In Ovo je važan korak, it points to something near the speaker, either physically or in the conversation:
- Ovo = this
- je = is
- važan korak = an important step
A useful thing to know is that ovo is the neuter form of the demonstrative, but in sentences like this it often works like English this in a general way: This is...
Examples:
- Ovo je problem. = This is a problem.
- Ovo je dobra ideja. = This is a good idea.
Why is it je and not something else?
Je is the 3rd person singular form of the verb biti (to be) in the present tense.
So:
- ja sam = I am
- ti si = you are
- on/ona/ono je = he/she/it is
Since ovo is being treated as it/this, Serbian uses je:
- Ovo je... = This is...
Why is it važan and not važna or važno?