When you sit at a cafe and watch the world go by, you might say "I see people walking" or "I hear someone whistling." In English, we use the "-ing" form of a verb to describe actions we perceive as they happen.
In Croatian, you express this using a clause introduced by kako. After verbs of perception (like vidjeti, gledati, or čuti), kako connects what you perceive to the action taking place.
The structure is:
- A verb of perception
- The target you are observing (in the accusative case)
- The word kako
- The action taking place (in the present tense)
| I am drinking coffee and watching passersby walk. | Pijem kavu i gledam prolaznike kako hodaju. |
| Do you hear the musician playing the accordion? | Čuješ li svirača kako svira harmoniku? |
Describing the target
The person or thing you observe is the direct object, so the noun and any adjectives describing it take the accusative case. The rest of the kako clause stays the same.
| We are watching a thoughtful passerby throw a coin. | Gledamo zamišljenog prolaznika kako baca novčić. |
| Do you see the smiling woman whistling a song? | Vidiš li nasmijanu ženu kako zviždi pjesmu? |
Beyond people
You can use this structure to describe absolutely anything you see or hear, from a passing vehicle to birds in the square.
| You hear a scooter passing by the cafe. | Čujete skuter kako prolazi pokraj kafića. |
| I see a pigeon flying above the square. | Vidim goluba kako leti iznad trga. |
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