Learn Croatian: Jesi li ljut zato što ti se računalo pokvarilo? - Are you angry because your computer broke down?

Jesi li ljut zato što ti se računalo pokvarilo?

Are you angry because your computer broke down?

Breakdown of Jesi li ljut zato što ti se računalo pokvarilo?

Questions & Answers about Jesi li ljut zato što ti se računalo pokvarilo?

Can I use jer instead of zato što in this sentence?

Yes, you can! You could say Jesi li ljut jer ti se računalo pokvarilo?. Both mean "because," but zato što is often used when you really want to emphasize the specific reason, or when answering a direct "Why?" (Zašto?) question.

The English translation says "your computer", but I don't see the word for "your" (tvoje). Where does it come from?

Instead of using a possessive word like tvoje, Croatian often uses the dative pronoun ti (to you) to show who is affected by the action. Literally, it is like saying "the computer broke down on you." This is very common when talking about personal belongings or body parts.

Why is there a se before računalo?

The se goes with the verb pokvarilo to make pokvariti se (to break down). Without se, the verb pokvariti means to break or ruin something else. Adding se shows that the computer broke down on its own, rather than someone breaking it.

Why are the short words ti and se placed right after zato što?