Breakdown of Oni se stalno podbadaju smicalicama.
oni
they
sebe
oneself (stressed reflexive)
stalno
constantly
smicalica
prank
Questions & Answers about Oni se stalno podbadaju smicalicama.
How does the prefix pod- affect the meaning of the verb podbadaju?
The root verb is badati, which means to prick or prod. The prefix pod- adds a sense of doing something from below, stealthily, or subversively. So, podbadati literally means to prod from underneath, but it is used figuratively to mean provoking, teasing, or goading someone in a sly way.
What role is the word se playing here?
Here, se acts as a reciprocal pronoun. It shows that the action is mutual: they aren't just provoking themselves, but rather they are provoking each other.
Why is the word smicalicama used without the preposition sa (with)?
Smicalicama is in the instrumental case, acting as the tool or means by which they provoke each other (by means of pranks). In Croatian, when you use the instrumental case to show the instrument or means of an action, you must drop the preposition s or sa.
Could we use the perfective verb podbodu instead of podbadaju in this sentence?
No, because the word stalno (constantly) indicates that this is a repeated, ongoing action. Therefore, you must use the imperfective aspect podbadaju. The perfective form podbodu (from podbosti) would only be used for a single, completed act of provoking.