исто као / различит од
Sameness and Difference
To express identity or sameness ('the same as', 'just like'), use исто као (adverbial) or the adjective исти, -а, -о као. To express difference ('different from'), use различит од (or adverbial различито од) followed by a noun in the genitive case.
How It Works
Comparing entities by sameness and difference is a fundamental skill in Serbian.
Expressing Sameness with 'исти као' / 'исто као'
• Case alignment: A very common misconception is that као always requires the nominative case. Because као is a conjunction, the item following it matches the grammatical role of the noun being compared:
- Subject comparison (nominative): Он је исти као његов отац. ('He is the same as his father.')
- Object comparison (accusative): Позвао је Марка исто као и мене. ('He invited Marko just like me.')
• Adjective vs. Adverb: Use the adjective forms исти, иста, исто, исти, исте, иста when modifying or equating nouns (Имамо исте идеје као они). Use the adverb исто when modifying verbs or entire actions (Радимо исто као и пре).
• Particle 'и': Adding и (исто као и ја) is very common and simply adds emphasis ('just like ... as well').
Expressing Difference with 'различит од'
• Unlike као, од is a genuine preposition that strictly governs the genitive case.
• The adjective различит agrees in gender, number, and case with its noun: Овај задатак је различит од претходног ('This task is different from the previous one').
• The neuter form различито од functions adverbially: Поступио је различито од свих нас ('He acted differently from all of us').
• To connect to a full clause, use the pronominal bridge од онога што...: То је различито од онога што смо чули ('That is different from what we heard').
Examples (5)
- Овај нови модел је исти као онај стари.
This new model is the same as that old one.
Word by Word: This new model is same like that old [one].
The adjective 'исти' agrees in masculine nominative with 'модел', and 'онај стари' remains nominative to match the subject.
- Мој син размишља исто као и ја.
My son thinks the same way as I do.
Word by Word: My son thinks same like and I.
Here, 'исто' is an adverb modifying the verb 'размишља', reinforced by the particle 'и'.
- Она има исту торбу као ти.
She has the same bag as you.
Word by Word: She has same bag like you.
The adjective 'исту' is feminine accusative agreeing with 'торбу'. 'Ти' matches the nominative subject because it implies 'kao što ti imaš'.
- Њен нови посао је сасвим различит од претходног.
Her new job is completely different from the previous one.
Word by Word: Her new job is completely different from previous [one].
'Различит' is followed by the preposition 'од' and the genitive adjective 'претходног'.
- Позвао је њега исто као и мене.
He invited him just like me.
Word by Word: He-invited is him same like and me.
Notice the accusative 'мене': because 'њега' is the direct object, the pronoun following 'као и' must also be in the accusative.
Common Mistakes
Treating 'као' like a preposition and putting the subject into the genitive or accusative.
Он је исти као његовог брата.Он је исти као његов брат.'Као' is a conjunction, not a preposition. When comparing the subject ('он'), the noun after 'као' must also be in the nominative ('његов брат').
Using the wrong preposition with 'различит' or omitting 'од' altogether.
Његов план је различит мој план.Његов план је различит од мог плана.'Различит' requires the preposition 'од', which in turn requires the genitive case ('од мог плана').
Using the uninflected adverb 'исто' when an inflected adjective agreeing with a noun is needed.
Она је исто као њена сестра.Она је иста као њена сестра.When describing a person or thing, the adjective must agree in gender and number. Since 'она' is feminine singular, use 'иста'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To express sameness and difference ('исто као', 'различит од'), learners need to agree adjectives with their nouns, understand prepositional case government (specifically 'од' triggering the genitive case), and be familiar with basic comparison structures.
Related Patterns
- Adjective Agreement
Governs how 'исти' and 'различит' inflect to agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify.
Level 2 - Genitive With Prepositions
Explains case government rules for prepositions like 'од', which is mandatory after 'различит'.
Level 2 - као даAs if
While 'исто као' denotes factual equivalence or resemblance, 'као да' is used for hypothetical or counterfactual comparisons ('as if').
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice исто као / различит од in Bubblegum
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