When setting strict rules or establishing formal agreements—such as the terms for chartering a luxury yacht—you need a way to state conditions clearly.
The Conjunction "Pod uvjetom da"
The phrase pod uvjetom da translates to "on the condition that" or "provided that". It introduces a mandatory requirement that must be met for the main action in your sentence to take place.
| You can charter it provided that you pay the deposit in advance. | Možete ju unajmiti pod uvjetom da unaprijed platite depozit. |
Using the Indicative Mood
Croatian grammar keeps formal conditions simple. The phrase pod uvjetom da is followed by the standard indicative mood. This means you simply use normal tenses (present, past, or future) to express the condition, without needing a special conditional or subjunctive form.
Here is a condition using the present tense:
| You can walk on the deck provided that you take off your footwear. | Možete hodati po palubi pod uvjetom da skinete obuću. |
You can also use the past tense (perfekt) to establish a condition based on a completed action:
| We will return the deposit to you provided that you haven't broken anything. | Vratit ćemo vam depozit pod uvjetom da niste ništa slomili. |
Expressing Formal Rules
This structure is highly favored in legal, business, and strict hospitality contexts. It sets a firm boundary for what is allowed or required from clients, guests, or crew members.
| Our crew will prepare the yacht on the condition that you confirm the reservation. | Naša posada će pripremiti jahtu pod uvjetom da potvrdite rezervaciju. |
| The client must pay for the damage provided that he is guilty. | Klijent mora platiti štetu pod uvjetom da je on kriv. |