Breakdown of Možemo li ovdje staviti šest udobnih sjedala?
ovdje
here
li
question particle
udoban
comfortable
šest
six
Questions & Answers about Možemo li ovdje staviti šest udobnih sjedala?
Why is the phrase udobnih sjedala in the genitive plural?
This is because of the number šest (six). In Croatian, quantities of five or more require the noun and its adjectives to be in the genitive plural.
How would this sentence change if we were putting three seats here instead?
It would be tri udobna sjedala. For numbers 2, 3, and 4, we use the paucal form. The neuter noun sjedalo takes its genitive singular form (sjedala), and the adjective changes to match it (udobna).
Wait, the noun sjedala is spelled exactly the same for three seats and six seats?
Yes! The genitive singular (used for 2, 3, and 4) and the genitive plural (used for 5+) of the neuter noun sjedalo are both spelled sjedala. You can tell the grammar apart by looking at the adjective (udobna for 3, versus udobnih for 6).
Why do we use the perfective verb staviti instead of the imperfective stavljati here?
Because the focus is on the completed action of putting the seats in place. You are asking if you can successfully position the seats there and be done with it, not asking about the continuous process of placing them.
Can I start the question with Da li možemo instead of ?