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Questions & Answers about Sada se tuširam.
Why do we need the word se here?
In Croatian, the verb for showering is tuširati se, which is a reflexive verb. Unlike in English where you just say 'I shower', in Croatian you express this as 'I shower myself'. The word se functions as 'myself' in this sentence.
Why is se placed between Sada and tuširam?
The word se is an unstressed word called a clitic. In Croatian, clitics have a strict rule: they must go in the second position of a sentence. Since Sada (now) is in the first position, se has to step in right after it.
Where is the word for 'I' in this sentence?
The 'I' is built directly into the verb. The -m ending on tuširam specifically means 'I'. Croatian speakers usually leave out the pronoun ja (I) because the verb ending already makes it obvious who is doing the action.
Why isn't there a separate word for 'am' like in the English translation?
Croatian doesn't have a continuous 'am doing' tense. The single present tense verb tuširam covers both 'I shower' and 'I am showering'. Adding Sada (now) makes it perfectly clear that the action is happening at this very moment.