Formation of Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives in Serbian grammar are derived from pronouns and serve to indicate ownership or association. The formation of possessive adjectives involves the addition of specific suffixes to the pronoun stem. These suffixes vary depending on the grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter) and the case (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, vocative, instrumental, or locative) of the noun being modified. Here are some examples of pronoun stems and their corresponding possessive adjectives for each gender:
- Masculine: moj (my), tvoj (your, singular), njegov (his), njen (her), naš (our), vaš (your, plural), njihov (their)
- Feminine: moja, tvoja, njegova, njena, naša, vaša, njihova
- Neuter: moje, tvoje, njegovo, njeno, naše, vaše, njihovo
Applying Declensions for Cases
As mentioned earlier, possessive adjectives in Serbian grammar must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case. This necessitates proper use of declensions, which are the changes in word form that indicate case. The following table provides examples of how the possessive adjective “moj” (my) declines according to case and gender:
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | moj | moja | moje |
| Genitive | mog | moje | mog |
| Dative | mom | mojoj | mom |
| Accusative | mog / moj | moju | moje |
| Vocative | moju | – | – |
| Instrumental | mojim | mojom | mojim |
| Locative | mom | mojoj | mom |
Examples of Possessive Adjectives in Context
To further illustrate the proper use of possessive adjectives in Serbian grammar, let us consider some example sentences:
- Ovo je moj automobil. (This is my car.)
- Njena knjiga je zanimljiva. (Her book is interesting.)
- Gde su naše četkice za zube? (Where are our toothbrushes?)
- Tvoj pas je preslatko. (Your dog is so cute.)
Conclusion
Mastering the use of possessive adjectives in Serbian grammar is an integral step toward achieving fluency in the language. By understanding their formation and applying the appropriate declensions for gender, number, and case, learners can effectively convey ownership or association in their conversations. Armed with this knowledge, one can continue building a strong foundation in Serbian grammar and communication.
