Nominative Case: Feminine Nouns
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Serbian, almost all feminine nouns in the Nominative case end in the letter -a.
- Use the Nominative case for the subject of a sentence: 'Mama spava' (Mom is sleeping).
- If a noun ends in -a, it is almost certainly feminine: 'kuća' (house).
- Keep the -a ending when the noun is the doer of the action.
Nominative Feminine Noun Formation
| Noun (Base) | Ending | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mama
|
-a
|
Mama spava
|
Mom sleeps
|
|
Sestra
|
-a
|
Sestra radi
|
Sister works
|
|
Kuća
|
-a
|
Kuća je velika
|
The house is big
|
|
Kafa
|
-a
|
Kafa je vruća
|
Coffee is hot
|
|
Škola
|
-a
|
Škola je blizu
|
School is near
|
|
Mačka
|
-a
|
Mačka mjauče
|
The cat meows
|
Meanings
The Nominative case is the dictionary form of a noun, used when the noun is the subject of the sentence.
Subjective
The noun performing the action.
“Mama kuva.”
“Sestra radi.”
Predicate Nominative
Identifying what someone or something is.
“Ovo je stolica.”
“Ona je studentkinja.”
Naming
Simply stating the name of an object.
“Kafa.”
“Voda.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun(-a) + Verb
|
Mama kuva.
|
|
Negative
|
Ne + Noun(-a) + Verb
|
Mama ne kuva.
|
|
Question
|
Da li + Noun(-a) + Verb?
|
Da li mama kuva?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Da/Ne, Noun(-a) + Verb
|
Da, mama kuva.
|
|
Identification
|
Ovo je + Noun(-a)
|
Ovo je kuća.
|
|
Description
|
Noun(-a) + je + Adjective
|
Kuća je lepa.
|
Formalitätsspektrum
Kafa je spremna. (Morning routine)
Kafa je spremna. (Morning routine)
Kafa je gotova. (Morning routine)
Kafa je tu. (Morning routine)
The Feminine Nominative Map
People
- Mama Mom
- Sestra Sister
Objects
- Kuća House
- Kafa Coffee
Nominative vs Accusative
Is it the Subject?
Is the noun doing the action?
Common Feminine Nouns
Family
- • Mama
- • Sestra
- • Baka
Home
- • Kuća
- • Soba
- • Stolica
Beispiele nach Niveau
Mama kuva.
Mom is cooking.
Sestra radi.
Sister is working.
Škola je velika.
The school is big.
Kafa je vruća.
The coffee is hot.
Moja drugarica dolazi.
My friend is coming.
Ova stolica je udobna.
This chair is comfortable.
Pobeda je naša.
The victory is ours.
Ovo je lepa pesma.
This is a beautiful song.
Studentkinja piše esej.
The student is writing an essay.
Kompanija traži radnike.
The company is looking for workers.
Zemlja je veoma plodna.
The land is very fertile.
Odluka je bila teška.
The decision was difficult.
Situacija zahteva hitnu reakciju.
The situation requires an urgent reaction.
Tehnologija menja naše živote.
Technology is changing our lives.
Kultura je ogledalo društva.
Culture is the mirror of society.
Nauka napreduje svakog dana.
Science is progressing every day.
Demokratija podrazumeva odgovornost.
Democracy implies responsibility.
Istorija pamti velike ljude.
History remembers great people.
Umetnost reflektuje ljudsku dušu.
Art reflects the human soul.
Sloboda je osnovno pravo.
Freedom is a fundamental right.
Evolucija jezika je fascinantan proces.
Language evolution is a fascinating process.
Filozofija egzistencije ostaje misterija.
The philosophy of existence remains a mystery.
Diplomatija je ključna za mir.
Diplomacy is key to peace.
Inovacija pokreće ekonomiju.
Innovation drives the economy.
Leicht verwechselbar
Both involve feminine nouns, but the ending changes.
Some masculine nouns like 'tata' end in -a.
Learners forget to change adjectives to match the feminine noun.
Häufige Fehler
Mama vidim.
Vidim mamu.
Kuću je lepa.
Kuća je lepa.
Sestra spava.
Sestra spava.
Kafa je ukusan.
Kafa je ukusna.
Vidim kuća.
Vidim kuću.
Ovo je mamu.
Ovo je mama.
Sestra radi posao.
Sestra radi posao.
Moja firma je veliki.
Moja firma je velika.
Zemlja je bogat.
Zemlja je bogata.
Odluka je bio težak.
Odluka je bila teška.
Demokratija je ugrožen.
Demokratija je ugrožena.
Istorija je pisao.
Istorija je pisala.
Umetnost je postao.
Umetnost je postala.
Satzmuster
___ je ___.
Ovo je ___.
___ ne radi.
Da li je ___ ___?
Real World Usage
Mama je stigla.
Moja kafa je najbolja.
Moja firma je stabilna.
Ovo je moja soba.
Hrana je stigla.
Kafa, molim.
Look for the -a
Don't overthink it
Check the verb
Use 'Mama'
Smart Tips
Assume it's feminine and Nominative unless the verb suggests otherwise.
Remember that the object needs to change to the Accusative case (-u).
Ensure your adjective also ends in -a to match the feminine noun.
Use the Nominative case after 'Ovo je'.
Aussprache
The -a ending
Pronounce the 'a' clearly as in 'father'.
Declarative
Mama spava. ↘
Falling intonation for statements.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
A is for Action! If the noun ends in -a, it's the one taking action.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a giant letter 'A' wearing a crown. This 'A' is the Queen (Subject) of the sentence, and she is always the one doing the work.
Rhyme
If the word ends in an A, it's the subject of the day!
Story
Mama (Mom) walks into the Kuća (House). She sees a Kafa (Coffee) on the table. Because Mama, Kuća, and Kafa are all the main focus, they all keep their -a endings.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look around your room for 5 minutes and write down 5 feminine nouns ending in -a that you see.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Serbians often use 'Mama' even in formal settings, but 'Majka' is more formal.
Similar usage, but 'kahva' is often used instead of 'kafa'.
Very similar, but sometimes 'kava' is preferred.
The Nominative case is the oldest case in Proto-Slavic.
Gesprächseinstiege
Šta je ovo?
Ko radi?
Da li je kafa vruća?
Kakva je situacija?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
___ (Mama) spava.
Select the correct sentence.
Find and fix the mistake:
Sestru radi.
je / velika / Škola
Is 'Kafa' in 'Kafa je vruća' Nominative?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Mama kuva.
All feminine nouns end in -a in the Nominative.
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercises___ (Mama) spava.
Select the correct sentence.
Find and fix the mistake:
Sestru radi.
je / velika / Škola
Is 'Kafa' in 'Kafa je vruća' Nominative?
Match: Mačka (Subject), Mačku (Object)
Mama kuva.
All feminine nouns end in -a in the Nominative.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Almost all, yes. There are rare exceptions like 'tata' (dad), but 99% are feminine.
No, the Nominative case is the base form. You don't change it.
Then you use the Accusative case, which usually changes the -a to -u.
No, you must use the correct case for the role the noun plays in the sentence.
Yes, but it doesn't end in -a. It's a special type of feminine noun.
Because it refers to a male person, despite the -a ending.
The subject is the person or thing performing the action of the verb.
Yes, the Nominative case is identical in Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian.
Scaffolded Practice
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2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Subject + Verb
Serbian uses noun endings to mark the subject, Spanish does not.
Nominativ
German changes the article; Serbian changes the noun ending.
Sujet
French relies on word order; Serbian relies on morphology.
Particles (ga/wa)
Japanese uses particles; Serbian uses inflection.
Marfu' case
Arabic uses vowel endings; Serbian uses suffix endings.
Subject-Verb-Object
Chinese has no inflection; Serbian is highly inflected.
