Breakdown of Astronomi promatraju nebo usprkos oblacima.
oblak
cloud
nebo
sky
promatrati
to observe
usprkos
despite
Questions & Answers about Astronomi promatraju nebo usprkos oblacima.
Why is oblacima in the dative case here?
The preposition usprkos (despite) always requires the dative case. Here, it is used with the plural masculine noun oblak (cloud), so it takes the plural dative ending -ima, becoming oblacima.
Could I use unatoč instead of usprkos in this sentence?
Yes, absolutely. Usprkos and unatoč are interchangeable synonyms that both mean 'despite' or 'in spite of', and they both require the dative case. Astronomi promatraju nebo unatoč oblacima would mean the exact same thing.
What case is nebo (sky) in this sentence?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object being observed. Because nebo is a neuter noun, its accusative form is identical to its nominative (dictionary) form.
What is the difference between promatraju and gledaju?
While gledati is the standard verb for 'to look' or 'to watch', promatrati means 'to observe' or 'to examine carefully'. It is used here to highlight the focused, scientific way the astronomers are studying the sky.