Biblioteka ima devet primeraka.

Because in Serbian, numbers affect the form of the noun that follows them.

A very useful pattern is:

• 1
  • nominative singular
• 2, 3, 4
  • a special plural-like form (historically related to genitive singular)
• 5 and higher
  • genitive plural

So with devet (nine), the noun primerak has to be in the genitive plural:

• jedan primerak = one copy
• dva primerka = two copies
• tri primerka = three copies
• četiri primerka = four copies
• pet primeraka = five copies
• devet primeraka = nine copies

That is why primeraka is correct here.

The dictionary form is primerak, meaning copy or specimen/example, depending on context.

Here are some useful forms:

• primerak = nominative singular
• primerka = genitive singular
• primerci = nominative plural
• primeraka = genitive plural

In this sentence, you see primeraka because it comes after devet.

Because primerci is the nominative plural, and that is not the form Serbian normally uses after numbers like devet.

After 5 and above, Serbian uses the genitive plural, so:

• correct: devet primeraka
• not correct here: devet primerci

Even though in English we simply say nine copies, Serbian grammar requires a specific case form after larger numbers.

Ima is the 3rd person singular present tense of the verb imati, which means to have.

So:

• imam = I have
• imaš = you have
• ima = he/she/it has

In Biblioteka ima devet primeraka, biblioteka is singular, so the verb is also singular: ima.

Because biblioteka is the subject, and it means the library. The sentence is saying that the library has something.

The number of copies does not affect the verb. The verb agrees with the subject:

• Biblioteka ima... = The library has...
• Biblioteke imaju... = The libraries have...

So the verb is singular because biblioteka is singular.

Yes. Biblioteka can refer to:

• the library as a place/building
• the library as an institution or collection

In this sentence, it most naturally means the library as an institution that owns or holds copies of something.

So Biblioteka ima devet primeraka is understood as the library has nine copies.

The neutral, standard word order is:

• Biblioteka ima devet primeraka.

Serbian word order is more flexible than English, because cases help show grammatical relationships. So other orders are possible, but they usually add emphasis or sound more marked.

For example:

• Biblioteka ima devet primeraka. = neutral
• Devet primeraka ima biblioteka. = marked; emphasizes nine copies

For learners, the given version is the safest and most natural one to use.

Yes. Serbian often allows the subject to be left out when it is clear from context.

So you might hear:

• Ima devet primeraka.

Depending on context, that could mean something like:

• It has nine copies
• There are nine copies available
• The library has nine copies

But if you want to be clear and explicit, keeping Biblioteka is perfectly natural.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

bee-blee-o-TE-ka EE-ma DE-vet pree-ME-ra-ka

A few notes:

• Stress is roughly on TE in biblioteka
• i is like ee in see
• e is like e in met
• r in Serbian is usually trilled or tapped
• Each vowel is pronounced clearly; Serbian spelling is quite phonetic

So the sentence is pronounced fairly close to how it is written.

Yes, primerak is a standard word for a copy of a book, document, magazine, and similar items.

In a library context, devet primeraka means nine copies of a particular title or item.

Depending on context, Serbian may use other words for other kinds of copies, but for books and library holdings, primerak is very common and natural.