Croatian clitics (unstressed words like sam, ću, se, and mi) usually take the second position in a sentence or clause by attaching directly to the very first word.
The "Invisible" Conjunctions
When connecting independent clauses, you will frequently use these coordinating conjunctions:
- a (and/while/but)
- ali (but)
- nego (but rather)
- ili (or)
These four conjunctions do not count as the first position.
When a clause begins with a, ali, nego, or ili, the clitic ignores the conjunction completely. It skips over it and attaches to the first stressed word after the conjunction.
Notice in the following examples how the clitics sit in the second position of the new clause only if you pretend the conjunction isn't there:
| The rural air is clean, and the city pollution bothers us. | Seoski zrak je čist, a smeta nam gradsko onečišćenje. |
| That is not an empty village, but rather I will buy an old estate there. | To nije prazno selo, nego tamo ću kupiti staro imanje. |
| You look through the window, but a tractor is being driven outside. | Gledaš kroz prozor, ali vani se vozi traktor. |
| Do you choose a clean pavement, or does the mud in the village bother you? | Birate li čist pločnik ili smeta vam blato na selu? |
Subordinating Conjunctions Behave Differently
Do not confuse these coordinating conjunctions with subordinating conjunctions (like da, jer, or zato što). Subordinating conjunctions do count as the first position in a clause, meaning clitics will attach directly to them.
However, as long as you are using a, ali, nego, or ili, simply remember to skip the conjunction and place your clitics directly after the next word.
| We do not like pollution, but rather we like the morning freshness. | Ne volimo onečišćenje, nego sviđa nam se jutarnja svježina. |
| Concrete is practical, but she likes the rural estate more. | Beton je praktičan, ali više joj se sviđa seosko imanje. |