Ovo je škola.

this

Breakdown of Ovo je škola.

• biti: to be
• škola: school

Questions & Answers about Ovo je škola.

Why is the sentence Ovo je škola. and not Ova je škola. if škola is feminine?

This is one of the most common questions, and it is very important.

In Ovo je škola., ovo does not directly modify the noun škola. It means something like this thing / this here and is used to identify what something is.

So the structure is:

• ovo = this
• je = is
• škola = school

Even though škola is feminine, ovo is neuter because it refers to an unspecified thing being pointed out.

Compare:

• Ovo je škola. = This is a school / This is the school.
• Ova škola = this school

So:

• ovo = this (thing)
• ova = this before a feminine noun

What does each word mean in Ovo je škola.?

Word by word:

• ovo = this
• je = is
• škola = school

So the sentence literally means:

• This is school
• More natural English: This is a school or This is the school, depending on context

Serbian usually does not use articles like a and , so context tells you which English version fits best.