Learn Hardcore Croatian: Naći ću vas kod škole u pet. - I will find you at the school at five.

In this sentence, vas means "you" in either the plural (talking to more than one person) or the polite/formal singular. If you’re talking to one person informally, you’d use te:

Naći ću vas... = I’ll meet/find you (plural or polite singular)
Naći ću te... = I’ll meet/find you (one person, informal)

Why is it "Naći ću" and not "ću naći"?

Because ću is a clitic and usually sits in second position in the clause. If the clause starts with the verb, the clitic follows it: Naći ću. If the clause starts with another word, the clitic comes after that word: Ja ću naći, Tada ću naći, etc.

Is "Naći vas ću" correct?

No. Clitics form a cluster right after the first stressed word, and the order here is ću vas. Correct options:

Naći ću vas...
Ja ću vas naći... With focus you can front the object: Vas ću naći... (emphasizes "you"), but not split the clitics as in "Naći vas ću."

Where does "ću" go if I start with time or place?

Still in second position:

U pet ću vas naći kod škole.
Kod škole ću vas naći u pet. Word order mainly affects emphasis, not basic meaning.

Does "naći" mean "to meet" here?

Literally naći = "to find," but in planning a meetup it often works like "I’ll meet you." Even more idiomatic for arranging a meeting is the reflexive:

Naći ćemo se kod škole u pet. = We’ll meet at the school at five. Very common too: Vidimo se kod škole u pet.

Should I use "naći se" instead of "naći vas"?

Use naći se when both sides are meeting each other (most common for plans): Naći ćemo se...
Use naći + object when you (the subject) will locate the other person(s): Naći ću vas... Both are correct; the reflexive sounds more mutually arranged.

Why "kod škole" and not "u školi" or "pred školom"?

kod škole = by/near the school (outside, vicinity)
u školi = in the school (inside the building)
pred/ispred škole = in front of the school Choose the one that matches the intended location.

What case is "škole," and why not "škola"?

After kod, the noun takes the genitive. The genitive singular of škola is škole, hence kod škole. Other prepositions use different cases:

u školi (locative)
pred školom (instrumental)
ispred škole (genitive)

What does "u pet" mean exactly? Do I need "sati"?

u pet = "at five (o’clock)." Adding sati ("hours") is optional:

u pet (very common, casual)
u pet sati (more explicit/formal)

Is "u pet" 5 a.m. or 5 p.m.?

It’s ambiguous by itself. Add:

ujutro (morning)
poslijepodne/popodne (afternoon)
navečer (evening) Example: Naći ću vas kod škole u pet navečer. In 24‑hour style: u 17 or u sedamnaest (sati).

Where is the subject "I"? Why is "ja" missing?

Croatian drops subject pronouns because the verb shows person. Naći ću already means "I will find." Add Ja only for emphasis/contrast: Ja ću vas naći.

How do I make it negative?

Use ne + ću = neću, and keep clitic order:

Neću vas naći kod škole u pet. If another word starts the sentence: Danas vas neću naći.

What case is "vas" here?

Vas is the accusative (direct object) of vi ("you" plural or polite singular). Useful forms:

Nominative: vi
Accusative/Genitive: vas
Dative: vama In the clitic cluster, auxiliary comes first, then object: ću vas.

Can I use "te" instead of "vas"?

Yes, if addressing one person informally:

Naći ću te kod škole u pet. For plural or polite singular, use vas.

How do I pronounce the special letters?

ć (in naći, ću) is a soft, short "tch" sound. Approximation: Naći ću vas ≈ NAH-chee choo vas (with very short clitics).

Why use the perfective "naći" and not "nalaziti"?

For a single, completed future event (a specific meeting/find), Croatian prefers the perfective: naći (ću). Nalaziti is imperfective (ongoing/habitual) and sounds odd here.

Are there synonyms for "kod" meaning "near"?

Yes:

pored/pokraj
- genitive = beside/next to
blizu
- genitive = near
uz
- accusative = right by, alongside All could replace kod depending on nuance: Naći ću vas pokraj škole u pet.