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Questions & Answers about Kuća je između parka i ulice.
What case does the preposition između take, and does it affect both nouns?
Između always governs the genitive case. Both coordinated nouns must be in the genitive: parka (gen. of park) and ulice (gen. of ulica). Another example: između škole i trga.
Why is it parka and ulice, not park and ulica?
Because između requires the genitive singular. Masculine nouns like park form genitive singular with -a (→ parka). Feminine -a nouns like ulica change to -e (→ ulice). Also note the contrast with u: for location you say u parku (locative), not u parka, because different prepositions require different cases.
Can I change the word order?
Yes. You can say Između parka i ulice je kuća. This is common when you want to start with the location. The clitic verb je tends to appear in “second position” after the first stressed chunk, so it’s natural to place it after the whole phrase Između parka i ulice.
Can I drop je?
Not in standard sentences. You need the verb biti (to be): Kuća je… In headlines or very casual speech, people sometimes omit it, but in normal speech/writing you keep je.
What’s the difference between je, jest, and how do I ask a yes/no question?
- je = 3rd person singular of biti (is). Most common.
- jest = emphatic/literary variant; also fixed in to jest (that is).
- Yes/no question: Je li kuća između parka i ulice? Colloquial: Je l’ kuća…? or regional/colloquial Da li je kuća…?
How is između different from među?
- između = specifically “between” two things/extremes; takes the genitive: između parka i ulice.
- među = “among/amongst, in the midst of.” With location it takes the instrumental: među ljudima (among people). With motion into a group it takes the accusative: među ljude (into the crowd).
How do I pronounce the special letters here?
- ć in kuća is a soft “ch,” like a very soft “ty/ch” sound [tɕ]. Contrast with hard č [tʃ] in čaj (tea).
- đ in između is a soft “dj” sound [dʑ], roughly like the “d” in “duke” when pronounced “dyuke.”
- c in ulice is “ts.”
- ž in iz is “zh” (as in “vision”).
There’s no “the” in Croatian. How do I say “the park/the street” explicitly?
Croatian has no articles. Context usually makes it clear. To be explicit, use demonstratives:
- Kuća je između tog parka i te ulice. (the/that park, the/that street) Other options: onog parka / one ulice (that … over there).
How do adjectives behave after između?
They must also be in the genitive and agree with the noun:
- Kuća je između velikog parka i glavne ulice.
- velikog = gen. sg. masculine of velik (big)
- glavne = gen. sg. feminine of glavna (main)
Can I use proper names of places?
Yes, put the generic noun plus the name in the genitive where needed:
- Kuća je između parka Zrinjevca i Ilice.
- parka Zrinjevca = “Zrinjevac Park” (both in genitive)
- Ilice = genitive of the street name Ilica (you don’t need to say ulica here)
How would I say it with plurals?
Use genitive plural for both:
- Kuća je između parkova i ulica. (between parks and streets) With a specific number, common speech allows: između dva parka, while a more formal variant is između dvaju parkova.
How do I say “between you and me” in Croatian?
Use genitive forms of the pronouns:
- između mene i tebe Other persons: između njega i nje, između nas i vas, između njih.
How do I negate the sentence?
Insert the negative form nije:
- Kuća nije između parka i ulice. (The house is not between the park and the street.)
Is ulica the only word for “street/road”?
- ulica = street (urban).
- cesta = road (often intercity/main road).
- put = road/way, often smaller or rural.
- avenija/bulevar = avenue/boulevard. Choose the one that matches what you mean: e.g., između parka i ceste (between the park and the road).
Could I say Kuća se nalazi između parka i ulice instead of je?
Yes. nalazi se (“is located/stands”) is a bit more descriptive/formal. Both are correct:
- Kuća je između parka i ulice.
- Kuća se nalazi između parka i ulice.
Why is parka the same spelling as the word for a “parka” (coat)?
It’s a coincidence. parka here is the genitive of park (a park). parka as a clothing item is a different noun (the coat). Context and agreement make the meaning clear.