Breakdown of Kvarat je prošlo četiri, a bend već svira.
biti
to be (sam, si, je)
a
and / but
četiri
four
svirati
to play (an instrument)
Questions & Answers about Kvarat je prošlo četiri, a bend već svira.
Why do we use prošlo here, and does it change depending on the hour?
In time expressions, prošlo acts as a fixed word meaning past the hour. It is literally the neuter past participle of the verb to pass used impersonally. Because it is impersonal, it always stays as prošlo and never changes its ending, no matter what time it is.
Is kvarat the standard word for quarter?
Kvarat is a widely understood colloquial word borrowed from Italian, especially popular in coastal regions like Dalmatia. In standard Croatian, or in inland areas like Zagreb, you will often hear people say petnaest (fifteen) instead, making it petnaest je prošlo četiri. Both are perfectly fine for conversational time-telling!
Why does the sentence use a instead of i for the word and?
The conjunction a is used because there is a slight contrast or surprise being expressed. The speaker is emphasizing that it is early (only 4:15), but the band is already playing. If you used i, it would sound like a plain list of two separate facts. The word a highlights the unexpected nature of the situation.
Do numbers change their case after prošlo?
No, in this conversational time structure, the number for the hour stays in the nominative (dictionary) case. You just say prošlo četiri (past four), prošlo pet (past five), and so on.