Breakdown of Čim četvorica prijatelja dođu, kvartet će vježbati note.
prijatelj
friend
htjeti
to want (intent, will)
vježbati
to practise
doći
to come, to arrive
čim
as soon as
kvartet
quartet
četvorica
four men
nota
note
Questions & Answers about Čim četvorica prijatelja dođu, kvartet će vježbati note.
Why do we use četvorica prijatelja instead of četiri prijatelja?
The word četvorica is a special numeral noun used exclusively for a group of men. When counting men, you must use these special numerals (dvojica, trojica, četvorica, etc.) followed by the genitive plural of the noun, which is prijatelja here. If the group included women, you would just use četiri prijatelja.
Since četvorica looks like a singular feminine noun, why is the verb dođu in the plural?
Even though četvorica has a feminine singular ending, it means four men. Because the meaning is plural and masculine, verbs generally agree with this plural meaning rather than the grammar of the word itself. Therefore, we use the plural verb dođu instead of the singular dođe.
Why is the present tense verb dođu used here for a future event?
The conjunction čim means as soon as. In Croatian, when you are talking about a completed future action following čim, you use the present tense of a perfective verb. dođu is the perfective present, showing that their arrival will be fully completed before the quartet starts practicing.
Could we use the word bilješke for the notes they are practicing?
No, because note specifically refers to musical notes or sheet music. Since a kvartet is practicing, they are clearly playing music. The word bilješke is used for written text notes, like the ones you take during a class or a meeting.
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