Question 1

Both glazbenicima and festivalima end in -ima. Are they in the same case?

Accepted Answer

They look identical but are actually in different cases! The preposition s (with) triggers the instrumental case for glazbenicima. However, the preposition na (at or on) used for a static location triggers the locative case for festivalima. In Croatian, the plural endings for the dative, locative, and instrumental cases are always exactly the same (-ima for masculine and neuter nouns).

Question 2

The word for musician is glazbenik. Why does it change to glazbenicima here instead of glazbenikima?

Accepted Answer

This happens because of a common sound change rule. When forming the plural of masculine nouns ending in -k, the -k changes to -c. So, glazbenik becomes the plural stem glazbenic-, and then you add the instrumental plural ending -ima to get glazbenicima.

Question 3

Why do we need the word se in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The verb družiti se (to hang out or socialize) is a reflexive verb, which means it always needs the short word se to be complete. Without se, the base verb družiti means to unite or join things together, which would sound very strange here!

Question 4

Do we always need the preposition s before the instrumental case?

Accepted Answer

Not always! You only use s (or sa) when the instrumental case means doing something in the company of someone or something, like hanging out with musicians. If you use the instrumental case to show the tool or method used to do an action, like writing with a pen or traveling by car, you must drop the preposition completely.

Često se družimo s glazbenicima na festivalima.

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