Introducing a Thing or Person
Ovo je introduces one thing or person.
How It Works
When you hold up a photo or meet someone, you can use one fixed phrase: Ovo je ... It does not change for a man, a woman or a thing.
- Ovo je Emina. (a person)
- Ovo je moja sestra. (a family member)
- Ovo je Sarajevo. (a place)
- Ovo je kafa. (a thing)
For more than one person or thing, change the verb: Ovo su ... as in Ovo su moji roditelji.
The noun after ovo je stays in the nominative, the form you find in a dictionary. A word that goes with the noun, such as moj, agrees with it, so you use moja sestra after ovo je.
Speakers also use Ovaj je Amir or Ova je Emina, matching the gender. That is also ordinary Bosnian. Ovo je is the easy one to start with, because it is the same for every gender.
Examples (4)
- Ovo je Emina.
This is Emina.
Ovo je introduces a person.
- Ovo je moj brat.
This is my brother.
Moj agrees with brat.
- Ovo je Sarajevo.
This is Sarajevo.
The same phrase names a place.
- Ovo su moji roditelji.
These are my parents.
With more than one, the verb is su.
Common Mistakes
Using je with more than one.
Ovo je moji roditelji.Ovo su moji roditelji.A plural needs su.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Ovo je points at something using a demonstrative.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Introducing a Thing or Person in Bubblegum
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