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Jutros smo bili u učionici.

Jutros smo bili u učionici.
This morning we were in the classroom.

Breakdown of Jutros smo bili u učionici.

biti
to be
u
in
jutros
this morning
učionica
classroom
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Questions & Answers about Jutros smo bili u učionici.

What does jutros mean? Is it the same as ujutro or jutro?
  • jutros = this morning (earlier today). It’s an adverb referring specifically to today’s morning.
  • ujutro/ujutru = in the morning (general or habitual time: in the mornings, in the morning as a routine).
  • jutro = morning (a noun). Example: Jutro je bilo hladno. = The morning was cold.
  • You don’t need to say danas jutros; jutros already implies “today.”
Why is smo after Jutros? Where can it go?
  • smo is a clitic (unstressed form of the auxiliary biti) and it must appear in the “second position” of the clause.
  • Correct placements:
    • Jutros smo bili u učionici.
    • Mi smo jutros bili u učionici.
    • Bili smo jutros u učionici.
  • Incorrect/unusual in neutral speech:
    • Jutros bili smo u učionici. (clitic not in second position; acceptable only in very marked or poetic contexts)
How is the past tense formed here?
  • Croatian “perfect” = present of auxiliary biti
    • L-participle of the main verb.
  • Here, the main verb is also biti, so you get present auxiliary smo
    • participle bili → “we were.”
  • Present auxiliary of biti:
    • 1 sg: sam
    • 2 sg: si
    • 3 sg: je
    • 1 pl: smo
    • 2 pl: ste
    • 3 pl: su
  • L-participle of biti:
    • masc sg: bio
    • fem sg: bila
    • neut sg: bilo
    • masc/mixed pl: bili
    • fem-only pl: bile
Why is it bili and not bio or bile?
  • The L-participle agrees with the subject in gender and number.
  • With we:
    • mixed group or any group containing at least one male → bili
    • all-female group → bile
  • So: Bili smo… (mixed/men) vs Bile smo… (all women).
Do I have to say mi?
  • No. Croatian is a pro-drop language. smo already encodes “we,” so Mi is optional and used for emphasis or contrast:
    • Neutral: Jutros smo bili u učionici.
    • Emphatic: Mi smo jutros bili u učionici. (as opposed to others)
What case is učionici, and why?
  • učionici is locative singular.
  • After u:
    • use accusative for motion into: u učionicu (into the classroom)
    • use locative for location in: u učionici (in the classroom)
  • Here we’re talking about location, so locative is required.
Can I say u učionicu in this sentence?
  • Not with bili (were), because biti describes a state/location, not motion.
  • Use u učionicu with a verb of motion:
    • Jutros smo ušli u učionicu. (This morning we entered the classroom.)
How does učionica decline (singular)?
  • Nominative: učionica (the classroom)
  • Genitive: učionice (of the classroom)
  • Dative/Locative: učionici (to/in the classroom)
  • Accusative: učionicu (the classroom, as object; also motion into)
  • Instrumental: učionicom (with/by the classroom)
  • Vocative: učionice (addressing)
Why are there no articles like “the” or “a”? How can I make it definite or indefinite?
  • Croatian has no articles; definiteness is inferred from context.
  • To make it explicit:
    • definite/specific: u onoj učionici (in that classroom)
    • indefinite/non-specific: u jednoj učionici (in a/some classroom)
    • vague: u nekoj učionici (in some classroom)
Is razred a valid substitute for učionica?
  • Usually no. učionica = the physical classroom (room). razred = a class (group of students/grade) or sometimes a homeroom period.
  • To say “in the classroom,” use u učionici, not u razredu.
How do I negate the sentence?
  • Jutros nismo bili u učionici.
  • Negative forms of the auxiliary:
    • nisam, nisi, nije, nismo, niste, nisu
  • The participle (bili/bila/bilo…) stays the same; only the auxiliary changes.
How do I say it with other persons (I, he, she, they)?
  • I (male/female): Jutros sam bio/bila u učionici.
  • He/She: Jutros je bio/bila u učionici.
  • They (mixed/men): Jutros su bili u učionici.
  • They (all women): Jutros su bile u učionici.
Can I move jutros elsewhere? Does it change the meaning?
  • Yes, word order is flexible; meaning remains but emphasis shifts:
    • Jutros smo bili u učionici. (time first)
    • Bili smo jutros u učionici. (focus on the action/state)
    • U učionici smo bili jutros. (emphasis on location)
  • Keep the clitic smo in second position of its clause.
Pronunciation tips for jutros and učionici?
  • j = English “y” in “yes”: jutros ≈ “yoo-tross” (rolled/flapped r).
  • č = “ch” in “chocolate”; c = “ts.”
  • učionici ≈ “oo-CHI-o-nee-tsee.”
Do I need a comma after Jutros?
  • No. It’s a simple adverb of time; no comma is required: Jutros smo bili u učionici.
  • You’d use commas with additional clauses, e.g., Jutros, kad je padala kiša, nismo bili…
How would I say “We were not in the classroom this morning, but in the library”?
  • Jutros nismo bili u učionici, nego u knjižnici.
  • Note nego (“but rather”) after a negation. In Serbian/Bosnian you’ll often see biblioteka for “library.”
Can I say Jutro smo bili u učionici?
  • Not for “this morning.” Use the adverb jutros.
  • Alternatives:
    • Ujutro smo bili u učionici. (in the morning, more general/habitual)
    • Toga jutra smo bili u učionici. (that morning, specific past day)