Questions & Answers about Škola ima nova računala.
Why does računala end in -a if it's plural? Doesn't -a usually mean it's a feminine singular word?
While most feminine singular nouns end in -a, računalo (computer) is a neuter noun because it ends in -o in its basic singular form. In Croatian, neuter nouns change their ending to -a to become plural. Here, it is in the accusative plural because it's the direct object of the verb ima (has).
Why is the adjective nova instead of novi or novo?
Adjectives must match the noun they describe in gender, number, and case. Since računala is neuter, plural, and in the accusative case, the adjective nov (new) must also take the neuter accusative plural ending. For neuter words, this ending is -a, giving us nova.
Škola, nova, and računala all end in -a. Are they in the same case?
No, this is a tricky coincidence! Škola is a feminine singular word in the nominative case (it is the subject doing the action). Nova računala is neuter plural in the accusative case (it is the object receiving the action). Neuter plurals and feminine singulars both use the -a ending, but they represent totally different grammar rules.
If nova računala was the subject of the sentence instead of the object, would the ending change?
It would stay exactly the same. For all neuter nouns and their adjectives, the accusative case (direct object) is always identical to the nominative case (subject). So whether the computers are receiving an action or doing the action, they remain nova računala.
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