Breakdown of Posle bioskopa ću uzeti piće u kafiću.
Questions & Answers about Posle bioskopa ću uzeti piće u kafiću.
Why is it posle bioskopa and not posle bioskop?
Because posle means after and it requires the genitive case.
- bioskop = cinema / movie theater (dictionary form, nominative)
- bioskopa = genitive singular
So:
- posle bioskopa = after the cinema / after the movie
This is a very common pattern in Serbian:
- posle škole = after school
- posle posla = after work
- posle filma = after the movie
In this sentence, posle bioskopa means after going to the cinema / after the movie.
Why is it u kafiću and not u kafić?
Because u can mean either in or to, and the case depends on the meaning.
Here it means in / at a café, so it takes the locative case:
- kafić = café
- u kafiću = in/at the café
Compare:
- Idem u kafić. = I’m going to the café. → accusative
- Sedim u kafiću. = I’m sitting in the café. → locative
In your sentence, the person will get a drink at/in a café, so u kafiću is correct.
What is ću uzeti doing here? Why are there two words for the future?
This is the normal Serbian future tense.
Serbian often forms the future with:
- the short form of hteti (ću, ćeš, će, ćemo, ćete, će)
- plus the infinitive
So:
- uzeti = to take / to get
- ću uzeti = I will take / I will get
Examples:
- Ja ću doći. = I will come.
- On će jesti. = He will eat.
- Mi ćemo gledati. = We will watch.
In your sentence:
- ću uzeti piće = I’ll get a drink
Why is it ću uzeti, not uzeću?
Both are possible in Serbian.
These are two common future forms:
- Ja ću uzeti
- Uzeću
Both mean I will take / I will get.
The version with ću + infinitive is especially common when another element comes before the verb:
- Posle bioskopa ću uzeti piće...
Putting ću in second position is very natural here.
So this sentence sounds normal and standard. You could also say:
- Posle bioskopa uzeću piće u kafiću.
That is also correct.
Why does ću come after Posle bioskopa instead of directly after ja or before everything else?
This is because ću is a clitic in Serbian. Clitics usually go in the second position of the sentence or clause.
So in:
- Posle bioskopa ću uzeti piće u kafiću.
the opening phrase Posle bioskopa counts as the first unit, and ću comes right after it.
You could also say:
- Ja ću posle bioskopa uzeti piće u kafiću.
Here Ja is the first element, so ću follows it.
This second-position behavior is very important in Serbian with words like:
- ću
- sam
- je
- se
- mi
- ti
What exactly does uzeti piće mean? Is it literally take a drink?
Literally, yes: uzeti means to take.
But in this context, uzeti piće is a natural Serbian expression meaning:
- to get a drink
- to have a drink
- sometimes to order a drink
So the English translation is usually more natural as:
- I’ll get a drink
- I’ll have a drink
rather than the literal I’ll take a drink.
Why is it piće and not something like jedno piće?
Serbian does not use articles like a and the, so piće can mean:
- a drink
- the drink
- drink in a more general sense
The context tells you which meaning is intended.
If you want to be more explicit, you can say:
- jedno piće = one / a drink
So:
- Uzeću piće. = I’ll get a drink.
- Uzeću jedno piće. = I’ll get one drink.
Both are correct. The version without jedno is very natural.
Is posle bioskopa exactly after the cinema, or does it really mean after the movie?
In real usage, posle bioskopa often means something like:
- after going to the cinema
- after the movie
- after the cinema trip
It does not usually mean merely after the building in a literal sense.
This is similar to how English sometimes uses places or events loosely. Serbian often uses short, natural expressions like this:
- posle škole = after school
- posle faksa = after college/classes
- posle ručka = after lunch
So the learner should understand posle bioskopa as a normal idiomatic time expression.
Can the word order be changed?
Yes, Serbian word order is fairly flexible, although some versions sound more natural in certain contexts.
Your sentence:
- Posle bioskopa ću uzeti piće u kafiću.
Other possible versions:
- U kafiću ću uzeti piće posle bioskopa.
- Piće ću uzeti u kafiću posle bioskopa.
- Ja ću posle bioskopa uzeti piće u kafiću.
These all keep roughly the same meaning, but the emphasis changes.
For example:
- Posle bioskopa... emphasizes when
- U kafiću... emphasizes where
- Piće ću uzeti... emphasizes what
The original sentence is very natural if the main point is what will happen after the movie.
Is u kafiću better translated as in the café or at the café?
Usually at the café sounds more natural in English, but in the café is also possible depending on context.
Serbian u kafiću literally means in the café, but English often prefers at for places like cafés, restaurants, and bars when talking about activities there.
So this sentence could be understood as:
- After the movie, I’ll get a drink at a café.
- After the movie, I’ll get a drink in a café.
Both work, but at a café is often the more idiomatic English translation.
Is bioskop the normal Serbian word for cinema?
Yes. Bioskop is a standard and very common Serbian word for cinema / movie theater.
You may also hear:
- film = film / movie
- ići u bioskop = to go to the cinema
So:
- Posle bioskopa is a very normal expression.
Depending on the region or style, other words may exist, but bioskop is absolutely standard and one of the first words learners usually meet for cinema.
Could a Serbian speaker also say na piće instead of uzeti piće?
Yes, very often.
Serbian frequently uses expressions like:
- ići na piće = to go for a drink
- otići na piće = to go have a drink
So a very natural alternative might be:
- Posle bioskopa ću otići na piće u kafić.
That means something like:
- After the movie, I’ll go for a drink to a café.
Your original sentence is still correct, but ići/otići na piće is another extremely common way to express the same general idea.
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