Kada je hladno, nosim kaput i čarape.

to be

Breakdown of Kada je hladno, nosim kaput i čarape.

• i: and
• hladan: cold
• kada: when

Questions & Answers about Kada je hladno, nosim kaput i čarape.

Why does the sentence start with kada? Can I also say kad?

Yes. Kada means when, and kad is a very common shorter form.

So these are both natural:

• Kada je hladno, nosim kaput i čarape.
• Kad je hladno, nosim kaput i čarape.

In everyday speech, kad is often more common. Kada can sound a bit more neutral or slightly more formal.

Why is there je in kada je hladno?

Je is the 3rd person singular present form of biti (to be).

Serbian often uses an impersonal structure here:

• hladno je = it is cold

There is no word for it in this kind of sentence. English needs it is cold, but Serbian simply says hladno je.

So:

• kada je hladno = when it is cold

Why is it hladno and not hladan or hladna?

Because hladno here is not describing a noun like cold weather or a cold room. It is being used in an impersonal expression meaning it is cold.

In these weather/condition expressions, Serbian often uses the neuter singular adverb-like/predicative form: