Gledam mapu, jer ne znam gde je stanica.

I am looking at the map, because I do not know where the station is.

Breakdown of Gledam mapu, jer ne znam gde je stanica.

• biti: to be
• ne: not
• gde: where
• stanica: station

Questions & Answers about Gledam mapu, jer ne znam gde je stanica.

Why is there no word for I in the sentence?

Serbian often omits subject pronouns when they are already clear from the verb form.

• gledam = I look / I am looking
• znam = I know

The ending -am in gledam and the form znam already show first person singular, so ja is not necessary.

You could say Ja gledam mapu..., but that usually adds emphasis, like I’m the one looking at the map.

Why is it mapu and not mapa?

Because mapu is the accusative singular form of mapa.

• mapa = nominative, the basic dictionary form
• mapu = accusative, used here because it is the direct object of gledam

So:

• Mapa je na stolu. = The map is on the table.
• Gledam mapu. = I’m looking at the map.

For many feminine nouns ending in -a, the accusative singular ends in -u.

Why is there no word for at in Gledam mapu?

Because Serbian often uses the verb gledati with a , where English uses .