Questions & Answers about Sušilica radi cijeli dan.
Why is the verb radi used here when the English translation says "is running"?
In Croatian, the verb raditi (to work) is the standard way to express that a machine, appliance, or engine is turned on and functioning. You wouldn't use verbs that literally mean "to run" (like trčati) for machinery.
Why doesn't cijeli dan have a preposition before it to mean "for the whole day"?
When expressing the duration of time (how long something lasts), Croatian uses the accusative case without a preposition. Because dan is a masculine inanimate noun, its accusative form looks exactly like its nominative form, which can sometimes be confusing.
How is the word sušilica formed?
It comes from the verb sušiti (to dry). The suffix -ilica is very commonly used in Croatian to create nouns for household appliances and tools. Another great example is perilica (washing machine), derived from prati (to wash).
Can I use a perfective verb with the phrase cijeli dan?
No, expressions of continuous duration like cijeli dan (all day) emphasize that an action is ongoing. This means they naturally pair with imperfective verbs like raditi, which focus on the process rather than the completion of the action.