Word
Je li išao na pregled zbog kašlja?
Meaning
Did he go to the check-up because of a cough?
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Je li išao na pregled zbog kašlja?
biti
to be (sam, si, je)
li
question particle
na
on, at / to, onto (with motion) / about (thinking about)
ići
to go
Questions & Answers about Je li išao na pregled zbog kašlja?
Why is zbog used here instead of radi?
Zbog is used to express the cause or reason something happened (the cough caused him to go). The preposition radi is used for a goal or purpose (something you want to achieve). Since a cough is a reason, not a goal, zbog is correct. Both take the genitive case.
Why is the word for cough kašlja instead of kašalja?
The dictionary form is kašalj. It has a fleeting "a" in its final syllable. When adding the genitive ending -a (required by the preposition zbog), that middle "a" drops out. This makes it kašlja.
Why do we use na pregled instead of u pregled?
The preposition na is used with the accusative case for going to events, activities, or open spaces. A check-up (pregled) is an activity, not a physical building you walk inside, so it requires na.
Could we use otišao instead of išao here?
Yes, but it changes the focus slightly. Je li išao simply asks about the general fact of him going or attending the appointment. Je li otišao would focus specifically on his departure (Did he leave for the check-up?).