A conversation changes character the moment “with me”, “with her” and “with them” become sa mnom, sa njom and sa njima.

How to cope with all different forms of Serbian pronouns, in different cases and with all the different endings? Well, there are many different ways, starting with old-fashioned grammar learning;


to using them in phrases, without thinking about grammar at all. What I find really efficient, is to listen to Serbian songs and learn the pronouns in common phrases, by singing :)

Let me share with you the following song: Za Njom by S.A.R.S.



How to Practise Serbian Pronoun SHE in the Instrumental Case



Now that you have heard this song, sang along, and done the exercise, can you tell me which prepositions were there in front of "NJOM"?

I am sure it wasn't difficult for you to list them:

  1. The most common for the instrumental case is always "SA" = with (with her)
  2. The most frequent in this song is "ZA" = "after" or "for"
  3. "POD"  meaning "under": pod njom
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Using instrumental pronouns in real sentences

The central idea in How to Practise Serbian Pronouns in Instrumental becomes memorable when it is attached to a situation. Imagine who is speaking, where the exchange happens and what response follows. The table below gives you models that can be adapted immediately.

sa mnom, sa tobom, sa njim — side by side

Latin scriptCyrillic scriptEnglish
Idem sa njim na koncert.Идем са њим на концерт.I am going to the concert with him.
Razgovaram sa njom svakog dana.Разговарам са њом сваког дана.I talk with her every day.
Ovo je njegova knjiga.Ово је његова књига.This is his book.
To je njena plava torba.То је њена плава торба.That is her blue bag.
Ana nam šalje poruku.Ана нам шаље поруку.Ana is sending us a message.

The instrumental after sa

Serbian pronouns reveal person, gender and case, while short unstressed forms usually occupy an early position in the sentence. Compare full and clitic forms in context instead of translating English pronouns mechanically. In this particular lesson, use that principle to interpret the examples connected with How to Practise Serbian Pronouns in Instrumental.

Every row lets you verify spelling twice. Pay special attention to Latin digraphs and diacritics before reading the Cyrillic form aloud at the same natural pace. Apply that script strategy to the vocabulary in How to Practise Serbian Pronouns in Instrumental.

Work through the pronoun table aloud

Read down the Latin column, then switch to Cyrillic without returning to English. Choose two examples, turn one into a question and make the other negative. Say both versions naturally. For this post, keep your final version connected with the situation in How to Practise Serbian Pronouns in Instrumental.

Check your Serbian: How to Practise Serbian Pronouns in Instrumental

Use the English cues to rebuild the Serbian sentences in Latin and Cyrillic. Accuracy of endings and diacritics matters more than speed. Keep every answer connected with How to Practise Serbian Pronouns in Instrumental.

  1. I am going to the concert with him.
  2. I talk with her every day.
  3. This is his book.
  4. That is her blue bag.
  5. Ana is sending us a message.

Answers for the instrumental pronouns

  1. Idem sa njim na koncert.
    Идем са њим на концерт.
  2. Razgovaram sa njom svakog dana.
    Разговарам са њом сваког дана.
  3. Ovo je njegova knjiga.
    Ово је његова књига.
  4. To je njena plava torba.
    То је њена плава торба.
  5. Ana nam šalje poruku.
    Ана нам шаље поруку.