Apoteka je blizu škole, ali ja sada idem u prodavnicu.

to be

Breakdown of Apoteka je blizu škole, ali ja sada idem u prodavnicu.

• ja: I
• ići: to go
• u: to

Questions & Answers about Apoteka je blizu škole, ali ja sada idem u prodavnicu.

Why is it škole and not škola after blizu?

Because blizu normally requires the genitive case.

• Basic form: škola = school
• Genitive singular: škole = of the school / near the school

So:

• blizu škole = near the school

This is one of those patterns you simply learn together:

• blizu + genitive
• pored + genitive
• kod + genitive

So a learner should remember blizu škole, not blizu škola.

Why is it u prodavnicu and not u prodavnici?

Because Serbian uses different cases after u depending on whether you are talking about:

• movement toward/into a place → accusative
• location in a place → locative

Here the verb is idem = I am going, so there is movement. That is why Serbian uses:

• u prodavnicu = to the store / into the store

Compare:

• Idem u prodavnicu. = I’m going to the store.
• U prodavnici sam. = I’m in the store.

So u can mean both in and , and the case tells you which meaning is intended.