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Oni putuju novim autobusom sutra.

Oni putuju novim autobusom sutra.
They are traveling by a new bus tomorrow.
FromLesson 2inHardcore Croatian
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Breakdown of Oni putuju novim autobusom sutra.

oni
they
autobus
bus
putovati
to travel
novi
new
sutra
tomorrow

Questions & Answers about Oni putuju novim autobusom sutra.

Why is the verb putuju used instead of the infinitive putovati?
In Croatian every finite verb must be conjugated for person, number and tense. Putovati is the infinitive form (to travel). Putuju is the 3rd person plural present‐tense (imperfective) form, meaning “they travel” or “they are traveling.”
Why is novi autobus changed to novim autobusom?
Croatian uses the instrumental case to express “by” or “with” when indicating means of transport. Here autobus (bus) is masculine inanimate, so its instrumental singular ending is -om (autobus → autobusom). The adjective novi also takes the instrumental ending -im, giving novim autobusom (“by/with the new bus”).
Could you show me the declension pattern for novi autobus in the instrumental singular?

Singular Instrumental for “new bus”:

  • Adjective novi → novim
  • Noun autobus → autobusom
    Together: novim autobusom.

For reference, here are the full singular forms of autobus (masc. inanimate):
• Nominative: autobus
• Genitive: autobusa
• Dative: autobusu
• Accusative: autobus
• Vocative: autobuse
• Locative: autobusu
• Instrumental: autobusom

Do I have to start the sentence with Oni?

No. Croatian verbs carry person and number, so the subject pronoun oni (they) is optional. Omitting it is perfectly grammatical:
• Putjuju novim autobusom sutra.
Including oni adds clarity or emphasis, but isn’t required.

Why is sutra placed at the end, and can I move it?

Word order in Croatian is flexible. Sutra (tomorrow) is an adverb of time and can appear at the beginning, middle or end without changing meaning. All are fine:
• Sutra oni putuju novim autobusom.
• Oni sutra putuju novim autobusom.
• Oni putuju novim autobusom sutra.

The sentence uses present tense (putuju). How would I say they will travel by the new bus tomorrow?

Use the future‐simple construction with će + infinitive:
• Oni će sutra putovati novim autobusom.
You can also drop oni or move sutra:
• Sutra će putovati novim autobusom.
Both mean “They will travel by the new bus tomorrow.”

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