Breakdown of Trebamo šezdeset ili sedamdeset čaša.
trebati
to need / should (ought to)
čaša
glass
ili
or
šezdeset
sixty
sedamdeset
seventy
Questions & Answers about Trebamo šezdeset ili sedamdeset čaša.
How are the numbers šezdeset and sedamdeset formed?
They are built by combining the base number with deset (ten). Šezdeset (sixty) comes from šest (six) + deset, but the "st" changes to "z" to make it easier to pronounce. Sedamdeset (seventy) is simply sedam (seven) + deset.
Why is the word for glasses čaša here? Doesn't čaša mean one glass?
In Croatian, numbers from 5 and up must be followed by the genitive plural form of the noun. The basic singular word (nominative) is čaša, and the basic plural is čaše. However, the genitive plural form of this specific noun happens to look exactly like the singular: čaša. The numbers 60 and 70 tell us it is plural here!
Do the numbers šezdeset and sedamdeset change their endings depending on the sentence?
No, they do not! Cardinal numbers from 5 upwards do not change their form (they are indeclinable). It is only the noun that follows them that has to change its ending to the genitive plural.
Why isn't there a word for "we" before trebamo?
Croatian is a language that often drops pronouns. The -mo ending on the verb trebamo already tells us it means "we need". You could say mi trebamo, but leaving mi out is much more natural unless you want to emphasize who is doing the needing.
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