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Questions & Answers about On je spreman.
What does On mean in this sentence?
On is the third-person singular masculine pronoun, meaning “he.”
What is the function of je here?
Je is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb biti (“to be”). So On je translates as “He is.”
Why is the adjective spreman in this form, and how would I say “she is ready”?
Adjectives in Croatian agree with the subject in gender, number, and case. Spreman is masculine nominative singular, matching On. To say “she is ready,” use the feminine nominative singular: Ona je spremna.
How do I pronounce On je spreman?
It’s pronounced [ɔn jɛ sprɛman].
- On = [ɔn]
- je = [jɛ]
- spreman = [sprɛman]
Can I omit On or je in casual speech?
Yes. Croatian often drops subject pronouns if the verb ending makes the subject clear. You can say (On) je spreman or simply Spreman je. However, you generally cannot drop je without changing the structure.
Why don’t we use articles like “a” or “the” in Croatian?
Croatian has no definite or indefinite articles. Nouns and adjectives appear without words for “the,” “a,” or “an.”
How would I say “they are ready” in Croatian?
Use the third-person plural of biti plus the plural adjective form:
- Oni su spremni (for a male or mixed group)
- One su spremne (for an all-female group)
What’s the difference between spreman and gotov?
Both can translate as “ready,” but:
- Spreman often implies being willing or prepared (mentally or physically).
- Gotov can mean “finished” or “done,” and in contexts like meals or tasks, “gotov” often emphasizes completion.
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