Questions & Answers about Kada uđeš u zgradu, skreni levo; moj stan je tamo.
What does kada mean here? Can I also say kad?
Kada means when.
Yes, in everyday Serbian, kad is very common and means the same thing. So these are both natural:
- Kada uđeš u zgradu, skreni levo.
- Kad uđeš u zgradu, skreni levo.
Kada can sound a bit more neutral or slightly more formal, while kad is very common in speech.
Why is it uđeš? What form is that?
Uđeš is the 2nd person singular present tense form of the verb ući (to enter, to go in).
But there is an important point: ući is a perfective verb. In Serbian, the present tense of a perfective verb often refers to a future completed action, especially after words like kada (when).
So:
- kada uđeš u zgradu = when you enter the building / once you go into the building
It does not mean when you are entering in an ongoing sense. It means the action is viewed as completed: first you enter, then you turn left.
Why is it u zgradu and not u zgradi?
Because Serbian uses different cases depending on whether there is movement or location.
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