Breakdown of Ako epidemija bude opasnija, karantena će biti stroža.
biti
to be (sam, si, je)
htjeti
to want (intent, will)
opasan
dangerous
strog
strict
ako
if
karantena
quarantine
epidemija
epidemic
Questions & Answers about Ako epidemija bude opasnija, karantena će biti stroža.
Why does the 'if' clause use bude instead of the future tense će biti?
In Croatian conditional clauses starting with ako (if) that refer to a possible future event, you generally cannot use the future tense. Instead, you use the perfective present tense. For the verb 'to be', that form is bude.
Can I use je instead of bude in this sentence?
If you say Ako epidemija je opasnija, it changes the meaning from a future condition to a present fact: 'If the epidemic is currently more dangerous'. Using bude clearly marks this as a condition for the future ('If it becomes more dangerous').
How is the comparative stroža (stricter) formed from the base adjective strog?
The adjective strog (strict) forms its comparative by adding the suffix -ji. This triggers a sound change called iotation, where g + j becomes ž, resulting in the stem strož-. Since it describes the feminine noun karantena, it takes the feminine ending -a to become stroža.
Why does opasan become opasnija rather than undergoing a sound change like stroža?
Croatian adjectives form their comparatives in a few different ways. While short adjectives like strog often take the -ji suffix and undergo iotation, longer adjectives like opasan usually take the standard -iji suffix. After dropping the fleeting 'a', it simply becomes opasniji (masculine) or opasnija (feminine).
Learn Ako epidemija bude opasnija, karantena će biti stroža 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