Breakdown of Iznajmićemo kombi za selidbu.
Questions & Answers about Iznajmićemo kombi za selidbu.
Why is iznajmićemo written as one word?
Because Serbian can form the future tense by attaching the short auxiliary ćemo to the infinitive stem.
Here the base verb is iznajmiti. When the future auxiliary is attached, the final -ti drops:
iznajmiti + ćemo → iznajmićemo
So iznajmićemo means we will rent.
A very common alternative is the two-part version:
Mi ćemo iznajmiti kombi za selidbu.
That means the same thing.
Do I need to say mi for we?
No. Serbian often leaves subject pronouns out because the verb ending already shows the subject.
In iznajmićemo, the ending -ćemo already tells you it is we.
So both are correct:
Iznajmićemo kombi za selidbu.
Mi ćemo iznajmiti kombi za selidbu.
You would add mi mainly for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.
What exactly is the verb form here?
Iznajmićemo is 1st person plural future tense of iznajmiti.
Broken down:
- iznajmiti = the infinitive, to rent / hire
- -ćemo = we will
So grammatically, it is future I in Serbian.
Why is it selidbu and not selidba?
Because after za in the meaning for, Serbian uses the accusative case.
The noun is:
- selidba = nominative, dictionary form
- selidbu = accusative singular
Since selidba is a feminine noun ending in -a, its accusative singular usually changes -a to -u.
So:
- za selidbu = for the move / for moving
What does za selidbu mean here exactly?
It expresses purpose.
So za selidbu means something like:
- for the move
- for moving
- for the relocation
In this sentence, it tells you why the van is being rented.
Does kombi za selidbu mean a special kind of moving van?
Not necessarily.
In this sentence, the most natural interpretation is simply:
a van to use for the move
So it does not have to mean a specially designed moving truck. It usually just means a van that will be used while moving belongings.
Why is kombi unchanged?
Kombi is a masculine noun, and here it is the direct object of the verb.
For masculine inanimate nouns, the accusative singular is usually the same as the nominative singular. So you see:
- nominative: kombi
- accusative: kombi
That is why it stays the same in this sentence.
Why use iznajmiti here instead of an imperfective verb?
Because iznajmiti is a perfective verb, and this sentence refers to one complete future action: renting the van once for the move.
That is exactly the kind of situation where a perfective verb is natural.
An imperfective verb such as iznajmljivati would suggest something more repeated, habitual, or ongoing, like:
- We will be renting vans
- We will rent vans repeatedly
So for a single planned action, iznajmiti is the normal choice.
Can I also say Mi ćemo da iznajmimo kombi za selidbu?
Yes, you can hear that in spoken Serbian.
That structure uses ću/ćeš/će... + da + present tense, which is common in everyday speech:
Mi ćemo da iznajmimo kombi za selidbu.
It means the same thing. However, Iznajmićemo kombi za selidbu and Mi ćemo iznajmiti kombi za selidbu are often felt to be more neutral or standard in many learning contexts.
Can the word order change?
Yes. Serbian word order is more flexible than English word order.
The neutral version is:
Iznajmićemo kombi za selidbu.
But you can move things around for emphasis:
- Za selidbu ćemo iznajmiti kombi. = emphasis on the purpose
- Kombi ćemo iznajmiti za selidbu. = emphasis on kombi
The meaning stays basically the same, but the focus changes.
Why is there no word for a before kombi?
Because Serbian has no articles.
There is no direct equivalent of English a/an/the. So kombi can mean:
- a van
- the van
The exact meaning comes from context. In this sentence, English usually translates it as a van because it sounds like new information.
How do I pronounce iznajmićemo?
A rough English approximation is:
eez-NIGH-mee-cheh-mo
A few helpful points:
- j sounds like English y
- ć is a soft sound, somewhat like a softer ch
- the stress is not marked in normal spelling, so learners usually pick it up by listening
The other words are roughly:
- kombi = KOM-bee
- selidbu = SEH-leed-boo
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