Škola je velika i nova.

to be

Breakdown of Škola je velika i nova.

• velik: big
• nov: new
• škola: school
• i: and

Questions & Answers about Škola je velika i nova.

What is the function of je in this sentence?

je is the 3rd person singular present tense of biti (to be). It acts as a copula linking the subject škola with its descriptive adjectives.

Why do velika and nova both end in -a?

In Croatian, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number and case. škola is feminine singular in the nominative case, so both adjectives take the feminine singular nominative ending -a.

What case is škola in, and how can I recognize it?

It’s in the nominative case, which is used for the subject of a sentence. Many feminine nouns in the nominative singular end in -a, which is a common clue.

Why isn’t there a word for the or a before škola?

Croatian does not use definite or indefinite articles like English. Definiteness or indefiniteness is inferred from context or sometimes expressed with demonstratives (e.g. ta škola “that school”).

How do you pronounce Škola je velika i nova?

• Š is pronounced /ʃ/ (like sh in “ship”), so škola is /ʃkɔla/.
• A rough English-style pronunciation is “SHKO-la yeh VEH-lee-ka ee NO-va.”
  Stress typically falls on the first syllable of škola and velika, but regional accents may vary.

What role does i play in velika i nova?

i is the conjunction and, connecting the two adjectives velika (big) and nova (new).

Can I put the adjectives before the noun instead of after the verb?

Yes. When used attributively (directly describing a noun), adjectives precede it: velika i nova škola (“a big and new school”). In your sentence they are predicative and follow the copula je.

How would you say “The schools are big and new” in Croatian?

You need the plural nominative forms: Škole su velike i nove. Here je becomes su, škola becomes škole, and adjectives agree as feminine plural nominative: velike and nove.