Note
The adjective mali changes its form according to the noun (mačku).
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Questions & Answers about Ana ima malu mačku.
What is the function of ima in the sentence Ana ima malu mačku.?
ima is the third person singular present form of the verb imati, which means “to have.” It indicates that Ana possesses something.
Why is mačku in the form mačku rather than mačka?
mačku is the accusative singular of the feminine noun mačka (“cat”). In Croatian, direct objects take the accusative case, and feminine nouns ending in -a change their ending to -u in the singular.
Why does mala change to malu before mačku?
Adjectives in Croatian agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case. Since mačku is accusative feminine singular, mala (nominative) changes to malu to match the accusative feminine singular form.
Can adjectives come after the noun in Croatian, like in English?
Adjectives normally precede the noun in Croatian (as in mala mačka). Placing an adjective after the noun is grammatically possible for poetic or emphatic effects, but it sounds unusual in everyday speech.
How would you ask “Does Ana have a small cat?” in Croatian?
You insert the enclitic question particle li after the verb:
Ima li Ana malu mačku?
How do you say “We have a small cat” using the same structure?
You change ima to the first person plural imamo:
Imamo malu mačku.
What gender is mačka, and how can you recognize it?
mačka is feminine. Most Croatian nouns ending in -a are feminine, and the adjective form mala/malu confirms this agreement.
Is there a more affectionate or diminutive way to say “small cat” in Croatian?
Yes. The diminutive of mačka is mačkica (“kitty”). To be affectionate, you could say Ana ima mačkicu instead of emphasizing size with mala mačka.