Breakdown of Siromaštvo je velik problem u svijetu.
biti
to be (sam, si, je)
velik
big
problem
problem
u
in, into
svijet
world
siromaštvo
poverty
Questions & Answers about Siromaštvo je velik problem u svijetu.
Why do we use velik here instead of veliki?
The word velik is the indefinite form of the masculine adjective, meaning 'a big', while veliki is the definite form, meaning 'the big'. When you introduce a noun for the first time, such as saying poverty is 'a big problem', the indefinite form is grammatically correct. While you will often hear native speakers use veliki in everyday speech regardless of the rule, at a B2 level it is important to recognize and understand this formal distinction.
What does the suffix -stvo do in the word siromaštvo?
The suffix -stvo is highly productive in Croatian for creating abstract neuter nouns, similar to '-ty', '-ness', or '-hood' in English. It transforms the adjective siromašan (poor) into siromaštvo (poverty). You will see this same pattern in words like društvo (society) and bogatstvo (wealth).
Why does the sentence use u svijetu instead of na svijetu?
Both prepositions translate to 'in the world' in English, but they have different nuances. U svijetu is typically used when discussing global human affairs, society, or geopolitics, which fits this sentence about poverty perfectly. On the other hand, na svijetu is used more for physical existence on the planet or in superlatives, like saying something is the most beautiful thing na svijetu (in the world).
Why is velik problem in the nominative case here rather than the accusative?
In Croatian, the verb biti (to be) acts as a linking verb rather than an action verb. It connects the subject, siromaštvo, to its description. Therefore, the predicate noun phrase velik problem must match the subject in case, which is the nominative. It does not take an accusative object because the verb is describing a state of being, not an action being done to an object.
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