Breakdown of Tražim moderan rječnik.
tražiti
to look for / to demand, request
moderan
modern
rječnik
dictionary
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Questions & Answers about Tražim moderan rječnik.
Why didn't the endings of moderan rječnik change if they are the direct object of the sentence?
Because rječnik is a masculine noun that represents a non-living thing (an inanimate object). For masculine inanimate nouns, the accusative case looks exactly the same as the nominative (dictionary) form. The adjective moderan matches the noun, so it stays exactly the same too!
Does the verb tražim always require the accusative case?
Yes, tražiti (to look for, to seek) is an action done to something, so it needs a direct object. You will always use the accusative case for the thing or person you are looking for.
Why is the adjective spelled moderan instead of just 'modern'?
Croatian often inserts an 'a' near the end of masculine words to break up a cluster of consonants and make the word easier to pronounce. This is known as a 'fleeting a' because it disappears in other forms, such as the feminine form moderna.
Where is the word for 'I' in this sentence?
In Croatian, subject pronouns like ja (I) are almost always left out. The verb ending -im in tražim already makes it perfectly clear that 'I' am the one looking.