Questions & Answers about Moja sestra mi sada vraća knjigu.
Why is it moja sestra and not moj sestra?
Because sestra is a feminine singular noun, and the possessive adjective must agree with it.
So:
- moj = masculine singular
- moja = feminine singular
- moje = neuter singular
Since sestra is feminine, you need moja sestra.
What does mi mean here?
Mi means to me here.
It is the dative singular form of ja. In this sentence, it marks the indirect object: the person who is receiving the book back.
So the structure is roughly:
- moja sestra = subject
- mi = indirect object, to me
- knjigu = direct object, the book
Why is it mi and not meni?
Both can mean to me, but they are used differently.
- mi is the short, unstressed clitic form.
- meni is the full, stressed form.
In a neutral sentence, Serbian usually prefers the short form mi:
- Moja sestra mi sada vraća knjigu.
You would use meni for emphasis or contrast:
- Moja sestra meni sada vraća knjigu, a ne njemu. = My sister is returning the book to me, not to him.