Breakdown of Trinaest dječaka igra nogomet na trgu.
na
on, at / to, onto (with motion) / about (thinking about)
trg
square
dječak
boy
igrati
to play (sports)
nogomet
football
trinaest
thirteen
Questions & Answers about Trinaest dječaka igra nogomet na trgu.
Why is the word for boys dječaka instead of the regular plural dječaci?
After numbers 5 and above (like trinaest), Croatian requires the noun to be in the genitive plural case. For most masculine nouns like dječak, the genitive plural takes the ending -a, making it dječaka.
Why is the verb igra (plays) in the singular form when there are thirteen boys?
This is a very important rule! When a number from 5 upwards is used, the verb must take the third-person singular form (the he/she/it form). Even though thirteen boys are playing, the grammar treats the subject as a single quantity.
Why do we use na instead of u for 'in the square'?
In Croatian, you use na (on) for open public spaces and flat surfaces. A town square (trg) is considered an open space, so you are technically 'on' the square. The noun takes the locative case ending -u to show location, becoming na trgu.
Is nogomet in a special case here since it is the game being played?
Yes, it is the direct object of the verb, so it is in the accusative case. However, because nogomet (football) is a non-living masculine noun, its accusative form looks exactly the same as its basic dictionary form.
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