Indefinite and negative pronouns like netko (someone), nitko (no one), nešto (something), and ništa (nothing) decline based on their grammatical role.
| Case | netko (someone) | nitko (no one) | nešto (something) | ništa (nothing) |
|---|
| Nominative | netko | nitko | nešto | ništa |
| Accusative | nekoga | nikoga | nešto | ništa |
| Genitive | nekoga | nikoga | nečega | ničega |
| Dative | nekome | nikome | nečemu | ničemu |
| Locative | nekome | nikome | nečemu | ničemu |
| Instrumental | nekim | nikim | nečim | ničim |
(Note: Croatian requires a double negative. If you use a negative pronoun like *nitko or ništa, the verb must also be negated.)*
Accusative Case
When "someone" or "no one" is the direct object of an action, use nekoga and nikoga. For things, the accusative forms remain identical to the nominative: nešto and ništa.
Genitive Case
The genitive forms for people look exactly like the accusative (nekoga, nikoga). For things, the genitive forms are nečega and ničega. Use the genitive to show possession, parts of a whole, or with verbs that specifically require it (like fearing something).
Dative and Locative Cases
The dative and locative cases share the same forms. For people, use nekome and nikome. For things, use nečemu and ničemu. You will use the dative for giving something to someone or trusting someone, and the locative primarily after prepositions like o (about).
Instrumental Case
The instrumental forms end in -im: nekim, nikim for people, and nečim, ničim for things. Use this case when doing something with someone or when dealing with something.