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Questions & Answers about Možeš li donijeti vodu?
What does each word in Možeš li donijeti vodu? mean?
- Možeš = you can (2nd person singular present of moći)
- li = yes/no question particle (turns a statement into a question)
- donijeti = to bring (perfective infinitive)
- vodu = water (accusative singular of voda, the direct object)
Why is it vodu and not voda?
Because vodu is the accusative singular form of the feminine noun voda. Croatian marks direct objects with the accusative case. Feminine nouns ending in -a typically change -a to -u in the accusative singular: voda → vodu.
Can I say vode instead of vodu? What’s the difference?
- vodu (accusative) usually implies a specific/definite amount, often contextually understood (e.g., a glass or bottle you expect).
- vode (genitive singular) can have a partitive sense, meaning an indefinite quantity, like English “some water.”
So: - Možeš li donijeti vodu? = Can you bring the water / bring some water (neutral).
- Možeš li donijeti vode? = Can you bring some water (emphasis on “some/any”).
What’s the difference between donijeti and donositi?
Aspect:
- donijeti (perfective) = bring (and complete the action once).
- donositi (imperfective) = to be bringing/to bring repeatedly or habitually.
With a modal like moći, perfective donijeti means “Can you bring (this time)?” while Možeš li donositi vodu? asks about ability/habit (e.g., regularly).
How does the question particle li work here?
li turns a statement into a yes/no question and normally appears right after the first stressed element. Here it follows the verb: Možeš li …?
If you add clitics, li still comes first in the clitic cluster:
- Možeš li mi donijeti vodu? (Can you bring me water?)
Can I ask the same thing without li?
Yes. In everyday speech you can say Možeš donijeti vodu? with rising intonation. Using li is more neutral/standard and preferred in writing.
How do I make it more polite or formal?
- Use formal/plural you: Možete li donijeti vodu?
- Make it more tentative: Biste li mogli donijeti vodu?
Add politeness markers: - Molim (vas/te), možete li donijeti vodu?
- Include the indirect object if it’s for you: Možete li mi donijeti vode?
What’s the imperative version (just “Bring water”)?
- Informal singular: Donesi vodu.
- Formal/plural: Donesite vodu.
More polite: - Molim te, donesi vodu.
- Molim vas, donesite vodu.
How do I pronounce it?
- Možeš ≈ MO-zhe(sh) (ž like the s in “measure,” š like sh)
- li = lee
- donijeti ≈ doh-NYEH-tee (the ni + je tends toward a “nye” sound)
- vodu ≈ VOH-doo (o as in “off,” u like “oo”)
Why is donijeti in the infinitive after možeš?
In Croatian, modals like moći (can), morati (must), htjeti (want) are followed by the infinitive: Možeš donijeti, Moraš donijeti, Želim donijeti.
Forms like Možeš doneseš are incorrect.
Is this phrasing specifically Croatian?
Yes. Standard Croatian prefers Možeš li donijeti vodu?
In Serbian you’ll commonly see Možeš li doneti vodu? or Da li možeš da doneseš vodu? Croatian does not use da + present with moći in this way, and uses donijeti (ije), not doneti.
Should I add mi to show it’s for me?
If you mean “bring me,” add the dative clitic mi:
- Možeš li mi donijeti vodu/vode? (to me)
Clitic order: Možeš li mi … (li comes before mi).
Can I use donijeti for people, or only objects?
Use donijeti for things. For bringing people/animals by leading or driving, use dovesti (on foot) or dovesti/dovesti by transport contexts.
- Možeš li dovesti Marka? = Can you bring Mark (here)?
- Možeš li donijeti vodu? = Can you bring water?
How do I say “Can’t you bring water?”
- Neutral/real question: Ne možeš li donijeti vodu?
- More natural in speech: Zar ne možeš donijeti vodu? (Is it that you can’t…?)
A simple negative answer to the original question is Ne mogu.
Why is there no article like “the” or “a”?
Croatian has no articles. Definiteness/indefiniteness comes from context, word choice, or cases. vodu can mean “the water” or “some water,” depending on context; vode often emphasizes “some water.”
How would I answer yes or no naturally?
- Yes: Mogu., Naravno., Odmah.
- No: Ne mogu., Nažalost, ne.
You can also confirm with the verb: Mogu donijeti.
How do I say “Could you bring some water?” (more polite/softer)
- Informal to a male: Bi li mogao donijeti vode?
- Informal to a female: Bi li mogla donijeti vode?
- Polite/formal: Biste li mogli donijeti vode?
How do I specify a quantity, like “a glass/bottle of water”?
Use a measured noun + genitive:
- čašu vode = a glass of water
- bocu vode = a bottle of water
- malo vode / nešto vode = some water
Example: Možeš li mi donijeti čašu vode?