Breakdown of Ona svjedoči protiv bivšeg muža.
ona
she
bivši
former
muž
husband
protiv
against
svjedočiti
to testify
Questions & Answers about Ona svjedoči protiv bivšeg muža.
Why do we use the forms bivšeg muža instead of the dictionary forms bivši muž?
The preposition protiv (against) always triggers the Genitive case. For a masculine noun like muž, we add the ending -a to get muža. The adjective bivši must match it, taking the masculine genitive ending -eg to become bivšeg.
Is it common to leave out the word for 'her' before bivšeg muža?
Yes, Croatian often drops possessive pronouns when the ownership is obvious from context. Since she is testifying against an ex-husband, it is assumed to be hers. You could say njenog bivšeg muža, but leaving it out sounds much more natural.
Does the word bivši only apply to relationships, like 'ex-husband'?
While it translates perfectly to 'ex' for relationships, its literal meaning is 'former' or 'previous'. You will also see it used in contexts like bivši šef (former boss) or bivši posao (previous job).
Is the verb svjedočiti related to the Croatian word for a witness?
Yes! The verb svjedočiti (to testify) is built directly from the noun svjedok, which means 'a witness'. Recognizing these root connections is a great way to easily expand your vocabulary at this level.
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