Sklonio sam stolicu.

I moved the chair out of the way.

Breakdown of Sklonio sam stolicu.

• biti: to be
• stolica: chair
• skloniti: to move out of the way

Questions & Answers about Sklonio sam stolicu.

Why is it sklonio sam and not sam sklonio?

This is because sam is an unstressed clitic.

In Serbian past tense, you use:

• the l-participle: sklonio
• plus a present-tense form of biti: sam

Clitics usually go in second position in the clause, so after the first stressed element. In Sklonio sam stolicu, the first element is sklonio, so sam comes right after it.

You can also say:

• Ja sam sklonio stolicu. = I moved the chair.
• Stolicu sam sklonio. = It was the chair that I moved.

But sam normally does not stand freely at the beginning by itself.

Why is there no word for I?

Serbian often leaves out subject pronouns when they are already clear from the verb form.

In Sklonio sam stolicu, sam tells you this is first person singular, so I is already understood.

So:

• Sklonio sam stolicu. = I moved/removed the chair.
• Ja sam sklonio stolicu. = I moved the chair.

Adding ja is possible, but it usually gives extra emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

Why is it stolicu instead of stolica?