When planning large events and counting inventory like tablecloths or trays, you will regularly use compound numbers (like 21, 34, or 101).
In Croatian, the rule for noun and adjective agreement with compound numbers is refreshingly consistent: you only look at the last digit (the final word) of the number. The grammar rules for that single digit apply to the whole compound number, regardless of how large it is.
Numbers Ending in 1
If a compound number ends in 1 (e.g., 21, 51, 101—with the exception of 11), the noun and its describing adjectives must be in the nominative singular, exactly as if you were talking about a single item.
Additionally, the word for one (jedan) must change its ending to match the gender of the noun (jedan for masculine, jedna for feminine, jedno for neuter).
| We are organizing twenty-one lavish banquets. | Organiziramo dvadeset jedan raskošan banket. |
| Fifty-one red napkins are on the table. | Pedeset jedna crvena salveta je na stolu. |
Numbers Ending in 2, 3, or 4
If the compound number ends in 2, 3, or 4 (e.g., 22, 34, 104—except 12, 13, and 14), the noun and any accompanying adjectives take the genitive singular (often called the paucal form).
Also, remember that the number 2 has different forms for gender: dva for masculine and neuter nouns, and dvije for feminine nouns.
| We need thirty-four white tablecloths. | Trebamo trideset četiri bijela stolnjaka. |
| There are forty-two long candles in the delivery. | U isporuci su četrdeset dvije duge svijeće. |
Numbers Ending in 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 0
For all other compound numbers ending in 5 or higher, or ending in a 0 (like 25, 30, or 60), you will use the genitive plural for both the noun and its adjectives.
| We have twenty-five empty trays for the banquet. | Imamo dvadeset pet praznih pladnjeva za banket. |
Expressing Cause with "Budući da"
When coordinating deliveries and preparations, you will often need to explain why something is happening. You can use the conjunction phrase budući da (since / because) at the beginning of a clause to express a cause or reason.
| Since the delivery is late, the organizers are nervous. | Budući da isporuka kasni, organizatori su nervozni. |
| Since the preparations are long, we need more people. | Budući da su pripreme duge, trebamo više ljudi. |