Ovo je osigurani slučaj.

to be

Breakdown of Ovo je osigurani slučaj.

• ovo: this
• osigurani slučaj: insured event

Questions & Answers about Ovo je osigurani slučaj.

Why does the sentence start with ovo, not ovaj?

Ovo means this and is the neuter singular form of the demonstrative pronoun.

Here it does not directly modify a noun. It stands on its own as the subject of the sentence:

• Ovo je ... = This is ...

By contrast, ovaj is masculine singular and is used before a masculine noun:

• ovaj slučaj = this case

So:

• Ovo je osigurani slučaj. = This is an insured case.
• Ovaj slučaj je osiguran. = This case is insured.

Those are related, but not the same structure.

What does je mean here?

Je is the 3rd person singular present tense of biti (to be).

So:

• ovo = this
• je = is
• osigurani slučaj = insured case / covered event

Together:

• Ovo je osigurani slučaj. = This is an insured case.

In Croatian, je is often unstressed and very common in simple identifying sentences like this.

What case is slučaj, and why does it have that form?