Questions & Answers about On spava u vlaku.
Why does the word for train change from vlak to vlaku here?
Because we are talking about where something is happening. After the preposition u (in), we use the locative case to show location. For masculine nouns like vlak, this means adding the ending -u.
Would it make sense to say na vlaku instead of u vlaku?
In English we often say we are 'on the train', but in Croatian, to say you are riding inside a closed vehicle like a train, tram, or car, you must use u (in). If you said na vlaku, it would sound like he is literally sleeping on the roof of the train!
Does spava mean 'he sleeps' or 'he is sleeping'?
It means both! Croatian does not have a separate continuous tense like English does. The single word spava translates to either 'sleeps' or 'is sleeping', and you just use the context to tell which one is meant.
Can I drop the word On and just say Spava u vlaku?
Yes, you can. In Croatian, the verb itself often tells you who is doing the action, so pronouns can be dropped. Spava means 'he, she, or it sleeps'. Using On just makes it absolutely clear that it is a 'he', or gives the subject a little extra emphasis.