Breakdown of Smatra se da ovo bratstvo čuva staru tajnu.
ovaj
this (m) / ova (f), ovo (n)
star
old
tajna
secret
čuvati
to keep
sebe
oneself (stressed reflexive)
da
that (conjunction)
smatrati
to consider
bratstvo
brotherhood
Questions & Answers about Smatra se da ovo bratstvo čuva staru tajnu.
How is the word bratstvo formed, and what does the suffix tell us?
Bratstvo is built from the noun brat (brother) and the suffix -stvo. This suffix is highly productive in Croatian for turning people or roles into abstract concepts, collectives, or systems. Because it ends in -o, the resulting word is always a neuter noun.
Why does it take -stvo instead of the similar suffix -štvo?
The choice usually depends on the final consonant of the root word. Roots ending in a hard consonant like the t in brat typically take -stvo. The variant -štvo is often used when the root ends in a palatal (soft) consonant to make the pronunciation flow more naturally.
Why is the sentence introduced with smatra se instead of a literal passive like je smatrano?
Smatra se is an impersonal reflexive construction. While Croatian does have a true passive voice, native speakers strongly prefer using the reflexive se with an active verb for general, subjectless statements like 'it is believed,' 'it is considered,' or 'people say.'
Why is the verb čuva used for keeping a secret instead of drži?
In English you 'keep' a secret, but in Croatian you 'guard' or 'protect' it. The verb čuvati means to guard or preserve, making it the natural collocation for a secret (tajna). Using držati (to hold) would sound like you are physically gripping an object.
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