Where sam Goes

Where the Helper Goes

Level 3

The short helper comes second, never first.

How It Works

The short forms are weak words, called clitics. They lean on the word in front, so they need a first word.

The first place can hold one word or a short group, such as moja sestra. The helper goes after the group.

One exception: in a yes-or-no question you can begin with the form je li, as in Je li Amir kod kuće? That is a fixed question opener.

When you need a stressed answer, the long form jesam can stand alone: Jesam.

Jučer sam bio kod kuće.
Yesterday I was at home.
Sam follows the time word jučer.
Bio sam kod kuće.
I was at home.
Sam follows the participle.
Moja sestra je došla.
My sister came.
The group moja sestra is first.
Kad si došao?
When did you arrive?
Si follows the question word.
Šta je Amir rekao?
What did Amir say?
Je follows šta.

Starting with the helper.
Sam bio kod kuće.
Bio sam kod kuće.
A short helper cannot open a statement.
Putting the helper later in the sentence.
Jučer bio sam kod kuće.
Jučer sam bio kod kuće.
In normal speech the helper takes the second place. A later position sounds odd or literary.

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Where sam GoesLevel 3Where the Helper Goes

The auxiliary stands in second position.

bitije

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