Breakdown of Policija traži ubojicu.
tražiti
to look for / to demand, request
policija
police (f)
ubojica
murderer, killer
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Questions & Answers about Policija traži ubojicu.
Why does the verb traži use the singular form when the English translation says 'police are'?
In Croatian, policija is a singular feminine noun. You treat it as a single unit or organization, so it takes a singular verb. This is a common trap for English speakers, who are used to treating 'police' as a plural word.
Why is the word for murderer ubojicu instead of ubojica?
The verb tražiti (to look for) needs a direct object in the accusative case. The base noun ubojica is masculine but ends in -a, meaning it changes its endings just like a regular feminine noun. Therefore, the -a changes to -u in the accusative case.
Could I use the verb gledati in this sentence since it also means 'to look'?
No, because gledati means to physically watch or look at something. When you want to say 'to look for' or 'to search' for someone or something, you must use tražiti.