Learn Hardcore Croatian: Ta priča je stvarno dobra.

ta is the feminine singular form of the demonstrative meaning roughly “that” (usually something already known in context or near the listener).
It must agree with the noun’s gender: taj (masc), ta (fem), to (neut).
Full three-way demonstratives in Croatian:
- “this” (near the speaker): ovaj/ova/ovo
- “that” (near the listener or previously mentioned): taj/ta/to
- “that (over there)/more remote”: onaj/ona/ono
Since priča (story) is feminine, you use ta: ta priča.

Why is the adjective dobra and not dobar or dobro?

Adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. Priča is feminine singular, so the nominative singular forms are:

masculine: dobar
feminine: dobra
neuter: dobro Hence: ta priča … (je) dobra.

What cases are used here, and why isn’t it dobru priču?

In a “X is Y” sentence with an adjective, both the subject (ta priča) and the predicate adjective (dobra) are in the nominative: Ta priča je dobra.
You’d see accusative (and the -u ending) when the noun is a direct object: Vidim tu priču; with an adjective: Vidim dobru priču.
Other cases change the forms too: e.g., locative “about that story” = o toj priči.

What is je?

It’s the 3rd-person singular present of biti (to be): “is”. In normal, unstressed use it’s a clitic.

Unstressed (clitic) forms: sam, si, je, smo, ste, su
Stressed (emphatic) forms: jesam, jesi, jest/je, jesmo, jeste, jesu (e.g., Jest dobra! = “It really is good!”)

Can I say Ta je priča stvarno dobra instead of Ta priča je stvarno dobra?

Yes. Clitics like je prefer “second position” in the clause. Speakers often treat Ta priča as one unit and place je after it: Ta priča je…. It’s also common to put je right after the first word: Ta je priča…. Both are fine; Ta je priča… can give a bit more focus to ta (“that story (as opposed to others) is really good”). With longer noun phrases, the clitic usually comes after the whole phrase: Ona tvoja duga priča je stvarno dobra.

Where can stvarno go, and what are good synonyms?

Neutral: Ta priča je stvarno dobra.
Emphasizing “really”: Stvarno je ta priča dobra.
Colloquial tag: Ta priča je dobra, stvarno. Avoid splitting the clitic placement (e.g., Ta priča stvarno je dobra) in careful standard usage. Common alternatives and nuance:
jako = very (everyday, strong)
vrlo = very (more formal/neutral)
baš = really/indeed/quite (colloquial, can express surprise)
zaista/doista = really/indeed (slightly more formal/literary than stvarno)

How would I say “That’s a really good story”?

Use the neuter pronoun to as a dummy subject and keep the predicate in nominative agreeing with priča:

To je stvarno dobra priča. Note the adjective stays feminine (dobra) because it agrees with priča, not with to.

How do I make it negative?

Use nije (ne + je):

General negation: Ta priča nije dobra.
“Not really good” (weak negation of degree): Ta priča nije stvarno dobra.
“It really isn’t good” (strong negation): Ta priča stvarno nije dobra. You can intensify negation: Ta priča uopće nije dobra (“not good at all”).

How do I turn it into a yes/no question?

Standard: Je li ta priča stvarno dobra?
Colloquial contraction: Je l’ ta priča stvarno dobra?
Echo/confirmation (just rising intonation): Ta priča je stvarno dobra? Across the region you’ll also hear Da li je ta priča stvarno dobra?, but Je li…? is the neutral standard in Croatian.

Do I need the demonstrative ta at all?

No article is required in Croatian. Priča je stvarno dobra can be understood as “The story is really good” if context makes it definite. Using ta makes the definiteness explicit (“that specific story”).

Do adjectives come before or after nouns?

Usually before: dobra priča. Post-nominal placement is marked and used for stylistic effect, fixed phrases, or poetry; priča dobra is not the neutral order.

How do I pronounce the tricky bits (like č and the cluster in stvarno)?

č is like English “ch” in “church” (IPA tʃ): priča ≈ “PREE-cha”.
r is tapped/trilled.
stvarno starts with a consonant cluster stv-; pronounce all the consonants clearly: st-var-no.