Eto, sada možemo da idemo.

Breakdown of Eto, sada možemo da idemo.

ići
to go
sada
now
moći
can
da
that
eto
there it is; there you go

Questions & Answers about Eto, sada možemo da idemo.

What does eto mean here?

In this sentence, eto is not really a literal there. It is a very common Serbian discourse word that can suggest things like:

  • there / there we are
  • well
  • so
  • alright
  • you see

In Eto, sada možemo da idemo, it gives the feeling of Alright, now we can go or There, now we can go.

It often appears when:

  • something has just been completed,
  • a situation has been resolved,
  • the speaker is drawing a conclusion,
  • the speaker is moving the conversation forward.

So here it adds a natural conversational tone rather than a concrete dictionary meaning.

Why is there a comma after Eto?

Because eto is functioning as a separate discourse particle, almost like a short introductory comment.

The comma shows a small pause:

  • Eto, sada možemo da idemo.

This is similar to pauses in English after words like well, so, or alright.

Without the comma, the sentence would look less natural in normal writing.

Is sada different from sad?

Yes, but only slightly.

Both sada and sad mean now.

The difference is mostly style and rhythm:

  • sada = the full form
  • sad = the shorter, very common spoken form

In many situations they are interchangeable:

  • Sada možemo da idemo.
  • Sad možemo da idemo.

Both are natural. Sada may sound a little more neutral or complete, while sad often sounds a bit more conversational and fast.

How do I know možemo means we can?

Možemo is the 1st person plural present tense form of the verb moći, which means can / to be able to.

So:

  • mogu = I can / they can
  • možeš = you can
  • može = he/she/it can
  • možemo = we can
  • možete = you can (plural/formal)
  • mogu = they can

Serbian often leaves out subject pronouns when they are obvious from the verb ending, so možemo already contains the idea of we.

Why is it da idemo instead of just an infinitive?

Because Serbian very often uses the structure:

  • modal verb + da + present tense

So:

  • možemo da idemo = we can go

This is one of the most common ways to express this idea in Serbian.

English uses can go, with a bare infinitive. Serbian often prefers možemo da idemo, where idemo is a present-tense form after da.

This is completely normal and very important to get used to in Serbian.

Can I also say možemo ići?

Yes, you can.

Both are possible:

  • možemo da idemo
  • možemo ići

But in Serbian, especially in everyday speech, da + present is extremely common, so možemo da idemo sounds very natural.

A useful learner rule is:

  • if you are unsure, da + present is often a safe and natural choice in Serbian.
Why is it idemo specifically?

Because after da, Serbian uses a finite verb form, not the infinitive.

Here:

  • ići = to go
  • idemo = we go / we are going

So:

  • možemo da idemo literally looks more like we can that we-go, but in real English it simply means we can go.

The form idemo matches the subject we, even though mi is not stated.

Why is the subject mi not included?

Because Serbian is a language that often drops subject pronouns when the verb already makes the subject clear.

Here, možemo already tells you the subject is we.

So:

  • (Mi) možemo da idemo.

Both are possible, but usually mi is unnecessary unless you want emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

For example:

  • Mi možemo da idemo, a oni ne mogu.
    We can go, but they cannot.

In your sentence, leaving out mi is the most natural choice.

Can the word order change?

Yes. Serbian word order is fairly flexible, although not completely free.

You could also hear:

  • Eto, možemo sada da idemo.
  • Sada možemo da idemo.
  • Možemo sada da idemo.

These all mean roughly the same thing, but the emphasis shifts a little.

For example:

  • sada earlier in the sentence can emphasize now
  • putting možemo earlier can emphasize can / are able to

The original Eto, sada možemo da idemo sounds very natural and conversational.

Why is the verb ići used here? Could another verb for go be used?

Yes, Serbian has several verbs that English often translates simply as go.

Here, ići is a general, neutral choice: to go.

But depending on context, Serbian might also use verbs like:

  • poći = to set off, start going
  • otići = to leave, go away
  • krenuti = to start off, head out

So this sentence could change slightly depending on nuance. For example:

  • Eto, sada možemo da pođemo. = Alright, now we can set off.
  • Eto, sada možemo da krenemo. = Alright, now we can get going.

Your original sentence with idemo is broad and natural, especially if the speaker just means we can go now.

What is the overall tone of the whole sentence?

It sounds natural, conversational, and slightly situational.

Because of eto, the sentence often suggests something like:

  • a task is finished,
  • someone has arrived,
  • the waiting is over,
  • permission or opportunity now exists.

So the feeling is not just we are able to go now, but more like:

  • Alright, now we can go
  • There, now we can go
  • Well, now we can go

That little extra tone comes mainly from eto.

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