Mala lampa je na stolu, ali u sobi je mrak.

to be

Breakdown of Mala lampa je na stolu, ali u sobi je mrak.

• u: in
• ali: but
• mali: small

Questions & Answers about Mala lampa je na stolu, ali u sobi je mrak.

Why is it mala lampa and not mali lampa?

Because lampa is a feminine noun in Serbian, and adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

• mali = masculine singular
• mala = feminine singular
• malo = neuter singular

So:

• mala lampa = small lamp

Both words here are in the nominative singular, because lampa is the subject of the sentence.

What does je mean here, and why does it appear twice?

Je is the 3rd person singular form of the verb biti (to be), meaning is.

It appears twice because the sentence has two clauses:

• Mala lampa je na stolu = The small lamp is on the table
• ali u sobi je mrak = but the room is dark / but it is dark in the room

So each clause has its own form of to be.

Why is it na stolu and not na sto?

Because after na when it means on in a location sense, Serbian uses the locative case.

• sto = table