sam / isti

Alone Oneself and the Same

Level 2

Sam agrees with its referent: sam, sama, samo, sami, same, sama. Isti also agrees and expresses sameness.

How It Works

Ana je sama. describes Ana as alone. In Ana je sama otvorila vrata., sama may emphasize that Ana did it herself, without help. Context distinguishes these related meanings.

Isti vlak, ista knjiga and isto mjesto mean the same train, book and place. Their endings agree with the associated nouns; case can change them further, as in u istoj sobi.

Do not confuse agreeing sam with invariable focus particle samo, meaning only in many contexts. Likewise, isti does not replace reflexive sebe or svoj: sameness, action directed at oneself and reflexive possession are different relations.

Examples (4)

  1. Ana je sama.

    Ana is alone.

    Sama agrees with a feminine singular referent.

  2. Sama sam otvorila vrata.

    I opened the door myself.

    A female speaker uses emphatic sama and auxiliary sam.

  3. Čitamo istu knjigu.

    We are reading the same book.

    Istu agrees with feminine accusative knjigu.

  4. Spavamo u istoj sobi.

    We sleep in the same room.

    Istoj is feminine locative.

How It Connects

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

sam / istiLevel 2Alone Oneself and the Same

Learn This First

Sam and isti behave as agreeing adjectives while adding their own referential meanings.

Words in This Pattern

isti