Kupujem pola kilograma paradajza.

to buy

Breakdown of Kupujem pola kilograma paradajza.

• paradajz: tomato
• kilogram: the kilogram
• pola: half

Questions & Answers about Kupujem pola kilograma paradajza.

Why is it kupujem? What exactly does that verb form mean?

Kupujem is the 1st person singular present tense form of kupovati.

So it means I buy or I am buying, depending on context. Serbian present tense often covers both:

• a general/habitual action: I buy
• an action happening now: I am buying

In this sentence, it most naturally sounds like I’m buying half a kilo of tomatoes.

Do I need to say ja kupujem instead of just kupujem?

No. In Serbian, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

• kupujem = I am buying / I buy
• kupuješ = you are buying / you buy
• kupuje = he/she/it is buying / buys

So Kupujem pola kilograma paradajza is perfectly normal.

You would add ja only for emphasis or contrast, for example:

• Ja kupujem paradajz, a on kupuje papriku.
  I’m buying tomatoes, and he’s buying peppers.

Why is it pola, not polovina?

In quantity expressions like this, pola is the usual word.

• pola kilograma =