Breakdown of Vidiš li koliku konstrukciju grade na gradilištu?
li
question particle
vidjeti
to see
na
on, at / to, onto (with motion) / about (thinking about)
graditi
to build
koliki
how large
konstrukcija
structure
gradilište
construction site
Questions & Answers about Vidiš li koliku konstrukciju grade na gradilištu?
Why is the word for "how large" written as koliku in this sentence?
Koliki functions as an adjective, meaning it must agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. Here, it describes konstrukciju (structure), which is the direct object of the verb grade (they build). Because konstrukcija is a feminine noun in the accusative case, koliki takes the feminine accusative ending -u, becoming koliku.
Could I use kakvu instead of koliku here?
You could, but it changes the meaning. Koliku specifically emphasizes the size or scale of the object ("how large a structure"). If you used kakvu, you would be asking "what kind of structure" they are building, focusing on its style, materials, or purpose rather than its physical size.
The words grade and gradilištu look very similar. Are they related?
Yes, they share the same root! The verb graditi means "to build" (seen here in the "they" form, grade). The suffix -ište is frequently used in Croatian to indicate a place where a specific activity happens. Therefore, a gradilište is literally a "building place" or construction site. You will recognize this root in other words too, like zgrada (a building) and even grad (city).
Why is it na gradilištu instead of na gradilište?
Even though an action is happening (grade - they are building), the building process is taking place statically at a specific location rather than moving toward a destination. Because it answers the question "where?" (gdje?) rather than "to where?" (kamo?), the preposition na requires the locative case (gradilištu) instead of the accusative (gradilište).
Learn Vidiš li koliku konstrukciju grade na gradilištu and more in Croatian
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free