Questions & Answers about Što Vi želite danas, gospodine?
Why does the verb želite end in -ite if its dictionary form ends in -jeti?
The verb is željeti (to want). When we conjugate regular -jeti verbs in the present tense, the -je- part changes to -i-. That is why the formal 'you' form is želite instead of 'željete'.
Why is Vi capitalized and paired with a plural verb when addressing one person?
Capitalized Vi is the formal, polite way to say 'you' to a single person, such as a customer or someone you do not know well. Even though you are talking to one person, formal Vi always takes the plural verb ending, which is -ite here.
Could we drop the word Vi from this sentence?
Yes, you could just say Što želite danas, gospodine? because the -ite ending on the verb already tells us the subject is formal 'you'. Including Vi here just adds a little extra politeness or focus.
Why is the word for sir spelled gospodine here instead of gospodin?
When you are talking directly to someone, Croatian uses a special form called the vocative case. For most masculine words ending in a consonant, you add an -e to the end. So, gospodin becomes gospodine when you are addressing him directly.