Sada mi je bolje.

to be

Breakdown of Sada mi je bolje.

• sada: now
• mi: me
• bolje: better

Questions & Answers about Sada mi je bolje.

What does each word in Sada mi je bolje do?

• Sada = now
• mi = to me / for me (short dative form of ja)
• je = is (3rd person singular of biti, to be)
• bolje = better

Literally, the structure is closer to Now it is better to me, which Serbian uses for the idea I feel better now or I’m better now.

Why is it mi and not ja?

Because Serbian does not express this idea the same way English does.

In English, you say I am better with I as the subject.
In Serbian, this expression is usually built more like It is better to me:

• meni je bolje = I feel better / it’s better for me
• short form: mi je bolje

So mi is not the subject. It is a dative pronoun meaning to me / for me.

What case is mi?

Mi is the dative singular form of ja.

Here are the relevant forms:

• ja = I (nominative)
• mene / me = me (accusative/genitive)
• meni / mi = to me / for me (dative)

In Sada mi je bolje, Serbian uses the dative because the idea is about someone’s state or experience: it is better to me / for me.