Fotelja je u novom stanu.

The armchair is in the new apartment.

Breakdown of Fotelja je u novom stanu.

• biti: to be
• u: in
• stan: apartment
• nov: new

Questions & Answers about Fotelja je u novom stanu.

Why is it stanu and not stan?

Because after u meaning in, Serbian uses the locative case to show location.

• base form: stan = apartment / flat
• locative singular: stanu = in the apartment

So:

• u stanu = in the apartment

If u shows movement into something, then Serbian usually uses the accusative instead:

• u novi stan = into a new apartment

So in Fotelja je u novom stanu, the chair is already located there, so locative is used.

Why is it novom and not novi?

Because adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in:

• gender
• number
• case

Here, stan is:

• masculine
• singular
• in the locative

So the adjective nov changes to match it:

• nominative: novi stan
• locative: u novom stanu

That is why you get novom stanu.

What case is fotelja in?