Breakdown of Sjećaš li se dječaka iz vrtića kojeg smo se bojali?
biti
to be (sam, si, je)
li
question particle
dječak
boy
iz
out of
Questions & Answers about Sjećaš li se dječaka iz vrtića kojeg smo se bojali?
Why is the relative pronoun kojeg in the Genitive case here?
The relative pronoun kojeg refers back to dječaka (the boy). It is in the Genitive case because it acts as the object of the verb bojati se (to be afraid of) in the second clause, and bojati se always requires its object to be in the Genitive.
Is dječaka also in the Genitive case for a similar reason?
Exactly. The verb sjećati se (to remember) also requires its object to be in the Genitive case. That is why the nominative dječak (boy) changes to dječaka.
Why is the word order ...kojeg smo se bojali instead of ...kojeg smo bojali se?
Both smo and se are enclitics (short, unstressed words). Enclitics naturally group together in a strict order and usually follow the first word of their clause, which here is the relative pronoun kojeg. The verbal enclitic smo must always come before the reflexive enclitic se.
I noticed vrtića also looks like a Genitive form. Is it?
Yes! The preposition iz (from) always requires the Genitive case, so vrtić (kindergarten) becomes vrtića. This sentence is a great workout for the Genitive case, as it is triggered three separate times by two verbs and a preposition!