Breakdown of Prvo moramo razvrstati otpad za odlagalište.
morati
must
prvo
first
otpad
waste
za
for (+ accusative)
Questions & Answers about Prvo moramo razvrstati otpad za odlagalište.
Why is the perfective verb razvrstati used here instead of the imperfective form?
Because the sentence focuses on the completion of the action: getting the waste fully sorted out. The imperfective form razvrstavati would be used to describe the ongoing process or habit of sorting waste, rather than finishing a specific task.
How is the noun odlagalište constructed?
It is built from the verb odlagati, which means to put away or to deposit, combined with the suffix -ište. In Croatian, this suffix is heavily used to create nouns that denote a specific place or site for an activity, making odlagalište literally a place for depositing.
Why doesn't the noun otpad change its ending, given that it is the direct object of the verb?
Because otpad is a masculine inanimate noun. In Croatian, masculine nouns that represent non-living things have an accusative form that is exactly the same as their nominative or dictionary form.
Why do we use the neuter form Prvo at the start of the sentence instead of the masculine Prvi?
In this sentence, Prvo is functioning as an adverb meaning firstly or as the first step. If you used prvi, it would act as an adjective modifying the hidden subject we, which would change the sentence to mean that we are the first people who must sort the waste.