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Questions & Answers about Ta stvar je ista kao tvoja.
What does the demonstrative ta mean here, and how is it different from ova/ovaj and ona/onaj?
Croatian has a three-way demonstrative distinction:
- ovaj/ova/ovo = this (near the speaker)
- taj/ta/to = that (near the listener or already known in context)
- onaj/ona/ono = that over there / more distant
In Ta stvar, ta is the feminine form of “that,” matching the noun stvar (feminine). So it’s “that thing (you know/near you).”
Why are ista and tvoja in the feminine form?
Because they agree with stvar, which is grammatically feminine. In Croatian, adjectives and possessives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case:
- stvar (feminine) → ista (feminine form of “same”) and tvoja (feminine form of “your”).
Why is it ista and not isto?
- isti/ista/isto are the masculine/feminine/neuter forms of the adjective “same.” Since stvar is feminine, you need ista.
- Note: isto can also be an adverb meaning “too/as well” (e.g., I ja isto. = “Me too”), which is unrelated to the adjective agreement here.
What case is tvoja in, and what case does kao require?
- tvoja is nominative feminine singular, because the omitted noun after it is stvar, also nominative: (tvoja [stvar]).
- kao functions like a conjunction (“as/like”), not a preposition. It doesn’t impose a case by itself; the word after it appears in the case required by its role. In this predicate comparison, it’s nominative: ista kao tvoja (stvar).
Why isn’t stvar repeated after tvoja?
Croatian often omits repeated nouns when the meaning is clear. Ta stvar je ista kao tvoja (stvar) is natural; the second stvar is understood and dropped to avoid repetition. You can say it, but it sounds redundant in everyday speech.
Can I leave out ista and say Ta stvar je kao tvoja?
You can, but it changes the meaning:
- Ta stvar je kao tvoja = “That thing is like yours” (similar).
- Ta stvar je ista kao tvoja = “That thing is the same as yours” (identical/equivalent). Use ista if you mean “the same,” not just “similar.”
Is kao i correct in ista kao i tvoja?
Yes. Both are common:
- ista kao tvoja
- ista kao i tvoja The i adds a light emphasis or parallelism. In neutral style, either is fine.
Why is je in the middle? Can it move?
je is a clitic (the 3rd person singular of “to be”) and tends to sit in the “second position” of the clause.
- Standard and natural: Ta stvar je ista kao tvoja.
- Also possible (with a different emphasis): Ta je stvar ista kao tvoja. (focus a bit more on “ta”)
- You cannot put je at the very end; it should appear early in the sentence due to the clitic rule.
Can I replace ta stvar with to?
Yes. Using the neuter pronoun to is very common:
- To je isto kao tvoje. Here, isto is neuter (agreeing with to), and tvoje is neuter too, referring to an implied neuter noun (e.g., to).
How would this sentence change with masculine or neuter nouns (and in plural)?
- Masculine: Taj auto je isti kao tvoj.
- Neuter: To odijelo je isto kao tvoje.
- Feminine plural: Te stvari su iste kao tvoje. Forms of isti and tvoj agree with the noun they refer to.
Is ko/k’o acceptable instead of kao?
In standard Croatian, use kao. You’ll hear ko/k’o colloquially or regionally (and it’s standard in some neighboring standards), but in formal writing stick with kao.
What’s the difference between isti, jednak, and sličan?
- isti = the same (identical item/type): isti kao tvoj.
- jednak = equal (in value/amount/rank); more formal/technical. Often takes dative: Rezultat je jednak tvome. (You’ll also hear jednak kao, but dative is the traditional rule.)
- sličan = similar: sličan tvom (dative), meaning “resembling but not the same.”
Can I drop je and say Ta stvar ista kao tvoja?
Not in standard Croatian. The copula je is required in normal sentences. You might hear it dropped in very colloquial speech, but avoid that in correct usage.
After kao, should I use nominative (kao ja) or accusative/genitive (kao mene) with pronouns?
Standard usage prefers nominative: kao ja/ti/on. In everyday speech many people say kao mene/tebe/njega, but stick to nominative in careful or formal Croatian.
How do I negate or ask a question with this sentence?
- Negative: Ta stvar nije ista kao tvoja.
- Question (standard): Je li ta stvar ista kao tvoja? Informal speech often uses Je l’ or regional Da li, but Je li is the safe standard choice.