Question 1

Why is the word for "crown of the head" written as tjemena?

Accepted Answer

The dictionary form is tjeme, which is a neuter noun. Like other neuter nouns ending in -me (such as ime or vrijeme), it gets an extra -n- added to its stem in all cases except the nominative and accusative singular. Since it is in the genitive case here, the stem becomes tjemen-, and adding the genitive ending -a gives us tjemena.

Question 2

Why are both kralježnice and tjemena in the genitive case?

Accepted Answer

They are determined by the prepositions od (from) and do (to). Both of these prepositions always require the noun that follows them to be in the genitive case. Using od and do together is the standard way to express a span or distance from one point to another.

Question 3

What case is bol (pain) in, and why does it look identical to its dictionary form?

Accepted Answer

It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb osjećati (to feel). Bol is an interesting noun: physical pain is usually feminine, while emotional pain is usually masculine. Since the accusative form of both masculine inanimate nouns and this specific type of feminine noun is identical to the nominative, the word remains just bol.

Question 4

Why use the verb form osjeća instead of osjeti?

Accepted Answer

Osjeća comes from the imperfective verb osjećati, which shows that he is continuously experiencing the pain over a period of time. If you used the perfective verb osjetiti (meaning to notice or suddenly feel), it would imply a brief, momentary pang of pain rather than an ongoing state.

On osjeća bol od kralježnice do tjemena.

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