Questions & Answers about Idem po kruh i mlijeko.
Why does po translate to 'to get' in this sentence?
The preposition po has a few different meanings depending on the grammar case it pairs with. When you use it with a verb of motion like ići (to go) and the accusative case, it means 'to fetch' or 'to go get' something.
Why didn't the words kruh and mlijeko change their endings?
They actually are in the accusative case because they follow the preposition po used for motion. However, for neuter nouns like mlijeko, and inanimate masculine nouns like kruh (objects that aren't alive), the accusative form looks exactly the same as their basic dictionary form.
Could I use a verb for 'to buy' or 'to get' instead of po?
Yes, you could say Idem kupiti kruh (I am going to buy bread) or Idem uzeti kruh (I am going to take/get bread). However, the phrase ići po is a very natural and common shortcut in everyday spoken Croatian to express running out to fetch something.
Is idem happening right now or in the future?
It can be both! Just like in English, the present tense of ići (idem) is frequently used to express an action happening in the immediate future, such as heading out to the grocery store right after you say it.