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Questions & Answers about Ona obično stiže na vrijeme.
Do I have to say ona, or can I leave it out?
You can leave it out. Croatian is a pro‑drop language, so the neutral version is simply: Obično stiže na vrijeme. Use ona only for emphasis or contrast (e.g., not someone else).
Why is it stiže and not stigne or stići?
- stiže is the present of the imperfective verb stizati and is used for habits: “(she) usually arrives.”
- stigne is the present of the perfective stići; with a single event it often has a future/achievement or “manage to” meaning: Stigne na vrijeme ≈ “She (manages to) make it on time (on that occasion).”
- stići is the infinitive: stići na vrijeme = “to arrive on time.”
Where should the adverb obično go?
Most natural: right before the verb — Ona obično stiže na vrijeme or simply Obično stiže na vrijeme. It can also go at the start of the sentence. End position (…na vrijeme, obično) is possible but marked; don’t put it between na and vrijeme.
What does na vrijeme literally mean, and what case is vrijeme?
It literally means “on time.” Na here takes the accusative; vrijeme is neuter and has the same form in nominative and accusative singular, so you don’t see a change.
Can I say u vrijeme instead of na vrijeme?
No. Na vrijeme = “on time (punctual).” U vrijeme means “at the time (when …)” and introduces a time frame: u vrijeme rata = “at the time of the war.”
Is Ona obično stiže na vrijeme different from Obično stiže na vrijeme?
Meaning is the same. Including ona adds emphasis (“She, as opposed to others”) or is used when the subject isn’t otherwise clear from context.
How do I make it negative: “She doesn’t usually arrive on time”?
Say: Ona obično ne stiže na vrijeme. Word order is typically adverb (obično) before the negated verb (ne stiže).
How do I ask “Does she usually arrive on time?”
- Neutral/standard: Stiže li ona obično na vrijeme?
- Colloquial: Da li ona obično stiže na vrijeme?
- Rising intonation in speech also works: Ona obično stiže na vrijeme?
How do I say it for a single future event?
Use perfective: Ona će stići na vrijeme or Stići će na vrijeme = “She will arrive on time.” (For habits, stick with stiže/stizati in the present.)
What about the past (habit vs. one time)?
- Past habit: Ona je obično stizala na vrijeme. (“She usually arrived on time.”)
- One specific event: Ona je stigla na vrijeme. (“She arrived on time.”)
Pronunciation tips for tricky letters?
- ž (in stiže) = s in “meaSure.”
- č (in obično) = ch in “CHalk” (hard ch).
- j = y in “Yes.”
- ije (in vrijeme) ≈ “yeh” (often a bit longer).
- v is a light, non-English v ([ʋ]); r is rolled/tapped.
Why are there no words for “a/the”?
Croatian has no articles. Definiteness is understood from context, word order, or demonstratives (e.g., ta = “that”).
Is there a difference between na vrijeme and navrijeme?
Yes. Na vrijeme = “on time (punctual).” Navrijeme (one word) = “in good time/before it’s too late.” Example: Javi se navrijeme = “Let me know in good time.”
How does this differ in Serbian?
Mainly the word for “time”: Croatian vrijeme vs. Serbian vreme. So Serbian: Ona obično stiže na vreme. Everything else here works the same.
Can I use dolazi instead of stiže?
Often yes. Ona obično dolazi na vrijeme = “She usually comes on time.” Dolaziti = “to come,” more general; stizati/stići focuses on the act of arriving/reaching a place.