Learn Croatian: Filozofija je korisna jer nam daje odgovore. - Philosophy is useful because it gives us answers.

Jer (because) is a subordinate conjunction. In Croatian, clitics (short unstressed words like nam) in a subordinate clause must follow the Wackernagel rule, which means they attach directly to the word that introduces the new clause. The 'second position' counting resets immediately after jer.

Can I group the two clitics (je and nam) together in this sentence?

No, because they belong to two completely different clauses. Je is the verb for the main clause (Filozofija je korisna), taking the second position there. Nam belongs to the subordinate clause, so it has to stay in its own territory right after jer.

Why is it nam (dative) instead of nas (accusative)?

The verb davati (to give) uses the dative case for the recipient (the person you give something to) and the accusative case for the thing being given. Since philosophy gives answers to us, mi (we) becomes the dative clitic nam.

Why does the plural word for answers end in -e (odgovore)? Doesn't it normally end in -i?