§ Mistakes people make with this word
Alright, let's talk about 'novac'. It means 'money'. Simple enough, right? But like many words, there are a few traps English speakers often fall into. Pay attention to these, and you'll sound much more natural.
§ Mistake 1: Not using the correct case endings
This is probably the biggest one. 'Novac' is a masculine noun. This means it changes its ending depending on its role in the sentence. Serbian has seven cases, and 'novac' will show up in most of them. You can't just use 'novac' everywhere.
- DEFINITION
- Nominative: novac (money, as the subject of a sentence)
Novac je na stolu. (The money is on the table.)
- DEFINITION
- Genitive: novca (of money, when indicating possession or after certain prepositions)
Nemam dovoljno novca. (I don't have enough money.)
- DEFINITION
- Dative: novcu (to money, for money, when indicating indirect object or certain prepositions)
To daje smisao novcu. (That gives meaning to money.)
- DEFINITION
- Accusative: novac (money, as a direct object, same as nominative for inanimate masculine nouns)
On ima mnogo novca. (He has a lot of money.) (Here, 'novca' is genitive because 'mnogo' triggers it, not accusative. Be careful!)
- DEFINITION
- Instrumental: novcem (with money, by means of money)
Plaćam novcem. (I am paying with money.)
- DEFINITION
- Locative: novcu (about money, on money, always with a preposition)
Pričamo o novcu. (We are talking about money.)
§ Mistake 2: Thinking of it as plural sometimes
In English, 'money' is a mass noun, treated as singular. But we often say 'some money' or 'a lot of money'. In Serbian, 'novac' is *always* singular. You won't use plural forms like you might for 'coins' or 'bills'.
Imaš li novac? (Do you have the money?) (Singular verb 'imaš' with singular 'novac')
Don't try to pluralize 'novac' directly. If you want to talk about specific units, you'd use words like 'kovanice' (coins) or 'novčanice' (banknotes/bills).
§ Mistake 3: Confusing 'novac' with 'para'
This is a good one to clarify. 'Novac' is the general term for 'money'. 'Para' (singular: 'para') also means money, but it's often used more colloquially, especially in the plural form 'pare'. 'Pare' (feminine plural) is very common in everyday speech.
- Novac: Formal, general term. Always masculine singular.
- Pare: Informal, common in spoken language. Feminine plural.
Nema para. (There is no money.) (Using the genitive plural of 'pare')
Treba mi novac. (I need money.)
§ Mistake 4: Literal translations of English idioms
Don't translate English money-related idioms word-for-word. They won't make sense in Serbian. For example, 'money talks' or 'to throw money at a problem' have completely different Serbian equivalents.
Nije sve u novcu. (It's not all about money.)
Focus on understanding the concept rather than direct translation. As you learn more Serbian, you'll naturally pick up the local idioms.
By paying attention to these common mistakes, you'll use 'novac' (and 'pare') much more accurately and confidently. Keep practicing those cases!
الگوهای دستوری
الگوهای جملهسازی
Imam [amount] [currency] (novca).
Imam 500 dinara (novca). (I have 500 dinars.)
Nema [amount] [currency] (novca).
Nema dovoljno novca. (There isn't enough money.)
Treba mi novac za [purpose].
Treba mi novac za hranu. (I need money for food.)
Koliko košta [item]? Je li to puno novca?
Koliko košta kafa? Je li to puno novca? (How much is coffee? Is that a lot of money?)
Platiti [something] novcem.
Platiti račun novcem. (To pay the bill with money.)
Nemam (dovoljno) novca.
Nemam dovoljno novca za to. (I don't have enough money for that.)
Uštedeti novac.
Želim da uštedim novac za putovanje. (I want to save money for a trip.)
Potrošiti novac na [something].
Ne želim da potrošim sav novac na gluposti. (I don't want to spend all my money on silly things.)
خودت رو بسنج 12 سوال
Da li imaš dovoljno ___ da kupiš ovu knjigu?
The sentence asks if you have enough 'money' to buy the book. 'Novac' means money.
Potreban mi je ___ da platim račune.
You need 'money' to pay bills. 'Novac' is the correct word.
Koliko ti je ___ potrebno za putovanje?
The question asks how much 'money' you need for the trip. 'Novac' is the right choice.
Izgubio sam sav svoj ___ dok sam bio u inostranstvu.
The sentence implies losing 'money' while abroad. 'Novac' fits the context.
Nije sav ___ sreća, ali pomaže.
This is a common saying: 'Not all money is happiness, but it helps.' 'Novac' completes the phrase.
Bankomat je ostao bez ___ pa nisam mogao da podignem.
An ATM running out of 'money' makes sense in this context. 'Novac' is the correct answer.
Da li imaš dovoljno ___ da kupiš ovu knjigu?
The sentence asks if you have enough 'money' to buy the book. 'Novac' means money.
Zaboravio sam da ponesem ___ za put.
You would forget to bring 'money' for a trip. 'Novac' is money.
Bankomat je izbacio ___ bez problema.
An ATM dispenses 'money'. 'Novac' is the correct word here.
Uvek je dobro imati nešto ___ sa sobom za hitne slučajeve.
The genitive case 'novca' is used after 'nešto' (something) in the sense of 'some money'.
Tražio je pozajmicu, jer mu je hitno bio potreban ___.
If someone needs a loan, they need 'money'. 'Novac' means money.
Štedi ___ za putovanje oko sveta.
You save 'money' for a trip around the world. 'Novac' is money.
/ 12 درست
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