Log inSign up

Pita me je li salon otvoren.

Pita me je li salon otvoren.
She asks me if the salon is open.
From Lesson 210:Reported yes/no questions (je li)·Croatian

Questions & Answers about Pita me je li salon otvoren.

Since the English translation says 'if', why can't I use ako here?
In Croatian, ako is strictly used for conditional statements, like 'If it rains, we will stay home.' When 'if' means 'whether' in a reported question, you must use je li.
Why is the pronoun me (accusative) instead of mi (dative)? Don't you ask a question 'to' someone?
While we often think of directing a question 'to' someone, the Croatian verb pitati (to ask) takes a direct object. This means it requires the accusative case for the person being asked. Therefore, you must use the accusative me, not the dative mi.
Does je li always have to come right after the main clause?
Yes, in a reported question, je li acts as the conjunction (meaning 'whether'). It introduces the reported clause and must come immediately before it, right after the main verb phrase Pita me.
Why is it otvoren and not otvoreni?
Otvoren is the indefinite form of the adjective. When an adjective is used after a verb to state a fact about the subject, rather than sitting directly next to a noun as a modifier, Croatian prefers this shorter indefinite form.

Learn Pita me je li salon otvoren and more in Croatian

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Croatian →