Moram da pitam kasirku koliko košta ovaj kaput.

must

Breakdown of Moram da pitam kasirku koliko košta ovaj kaput.

• ovaj: this
• kaput: coat
• kasirka: female cashier

Questions & Answers about Moram da pitam kasirku koliko košta ovaj kaput.

Why is there no ja in the sentence?

Because Serbian often drops subject pronouns when the verb ending already makes the subject clear.

• moram = I must / I have to
• The ending -am already tells you it is 1st person singular

So Ja moram da pitam... is possible, but it usually adds emphasis, like I have to ask.

What is the function of da in moram da pitam?

Here da introduces a verb phrase that works a lot like an infinitive in English.

• moram = I must
• da pitam = literally something like that I ask, but in natural grammar it means to ask

So moram da pitam means I must ask.

This da + present tense pattern is extremely common in Serbian, especially after modal verbs like:

• moram da... = I must...
• mogu da... = I can...
• želim da... = I want to...

Could I say Moram pitati instead of Moram da pitam?

Yes, it is understandable and grammatically possible, but in everyday Serbian moram da pitam sounds more natural.

So:

• Moram da pitam = the most usual everyday Serbian wording