Breakdown of Kakva veličanstvena izvedba!
kakav
what kind of / what a (exclamatory)
veličanstven
magnificent
izvedba
performance
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Questions & Answers about Kakva veličanstvena izvedba!
Why do we use Kakva here instead of Kako?
We use forms of kakav for exclamations built around a noun. Because the core of this exclamation is the feminine noun izvedba (performance), we use the feminine form Kakva. If you wanted to exclaim just the adjective without the noun (How magnificent!), you would use kako instead: Kako veličanstveno!
Are standalone exclamations like this always in the nominative case?
Yes. When a phrase stands alone to exclaim 'What a...!', the entire noun phrase is in the nominative case. Here, the pronoun Kakva, the adjective veličanstvena, and the noun izvedba all perfectly match in the feminine singular nominative.
Is this the same kakva used for asking questions?
Exactly. It is the same word you use to ask 'What kind of...?' in regular questions. Exclamation structures in Croatian heavily rely on question words. The exclamation mark and your tone of voice make it clear that you are exclaiming 'What a magnificent performance!' rather than asking about it.
Why is there no separate word for the English 'a' in this sentence?
As a B1 learner you likely remember that Croatian does not have indefinite articles like 'a' or 'an'. In exclamations, the single word kakva carries the full meaning of 'what a', so you never need to try and insert an extra word to match the English structure.