Breakdown of Trkač će prići cilju.
htjeti
to want (intent, will)
cilj
goal / finish line
trkač
runner
prići
to approach (perfective)
Questions & Answers about Trkač će prići cilju.
Why is cilju in the dative case?
The verb prići (to approach) strictly requires the dative case for the object or person you are moving towards. Since cilj (finish line or goal) is a masculine noun, it takes the dative ending -u, becoming cilju. You do not use a preposition here; the verb connects directly to the dative noun.
Does cilj always mean finish line?
Not always. Cilj broadly means goal, target, or objective. In the context of a race with a trkač (runner), it naturally translates to the finish line. You will also see it used for personal life goals or physical targets in games.
Could we drop the subject and just say Prići će cilju?
Yes, you can drop Trkač if the subject is already clear from the context. However, notice how the word order changes: because the future tense helper će is a clitic, it cannot start a sentence. Therefore, the infinitive prići must move to the front to support it, giving you Prići će cilju.
How does using the perfective verb prići affect the meaning of this sentence?
Because prići is perfective, it focuses on the completion of the action. This sentence implies the runner will successfully complete the act of coming right up to the finish line. If you wanted to describe the ongoing process of the runner getting closer, you would use the imperfective equivalent, prilaziti.