Ako kasnimo, stići ćemo na sljedeći vlak.

If we are late, we will make the next train.

Breakdown of Ako kasnimo, stići ćemo na sljedeći vlak.

• htjeti: will
• na: to
• kasniti: to be late
• ako: if

Questions & Answers about Ako kasnimo, stići ćemo na sljedeći vlak.

Why is present tense used in the if-clause (Ako kasnimo) even though it refers to the future?

Croatian normally uses the present tense in conditional clauses referring to the future. So Ako kasnimo is the standard way to say “If we are late (in the future)…”. A more formal alternative is Ako budemo kasnili (Future II), but using future I here is not used: avoid Ako ćemo kasniti.

Can I say Ako ćemo kasniti?

No. For future conditions, Croatian uses:

• Present: Ako kasnimo…
• Future II (formal): Ako budemo kasnili… Using future I in the if-clause (Ako ćemo kasniti) is considered incorrect or very nonstandard in this meaning.

What’s the difference between kasniti and zakasniti?

• kasniti (imperfective): “to be late” as an ongoing state or habit. Example idea: Ako kasnimo (na ovaj vlak)…
• zakasniti (perfective): “to be late/arrive late (and miss something)” as a completed one-time event. Very natural here: Ako zakasnimo (na ovaj vlak), uhvatit ćemo sljedeći.

How is the future tense formed in stići ćemo?