Learn Hardcore Croatian: Kad budeš na mostu, vidjet ćeš rijeku i izlaz prema parku. - When you are on the bridge, you will see the river and the exit toward the park.

In Croatian, time clauses introduced by words like kad/kada, dok, čim normally use the present tense to talk about the future. With biti, that future‑oriented present is the bud- set: budem, budeš, bude, budemo, budete, budu. So Kad budeš na mostu is the standard way to say When you are (in the future) on the bridge. The form Kad ćeš biti na mostu is avoided in standard Croatian.

Can I say Kad si na mostu instead?

Kad si na mostu means When you are on the bridge in a general or habitual sense (e.g., a standing rule). For a specific future occasion (one upcoming time), standard Croatian prefers Kad budeš na mostu.

What exactly is budeš? Is it a future tense?

Budeš is a present‑tense form of biti (the bud- present), but in subordinate clauses it commonly refers to future time. Full set: budem, budeš, bude, budemo, budete, budu. It’s not the same as Future I; it’s present in form, future in meaning in these clauses.

What tense is vidjet ćeš and how is it formed?

Vidjet ćeš is Future I. It’s formed with the short auxiliary of htjeti (ću, ćeš, će, ćemo, ćete) plus the infinitive of the main verb. When the auxiliary follows, the infinitive often drops the final -i: vidjeti → vidjet, hence vidjet ćeš.

Could I say Ćeš vidjeti instead of Vidjet ćeš?

Yes: Ti ćeš vidjeti or simply ćeš vidjeti is also correct. The auxiliary ću/ćeš/… is a clitic that tends to sit in “second position” in the clause. If the clause begins with the infinitive, you normally see vidjet ću/ćeš; if it begins with a pronoun or another word, you get Ja ću vidjeti, Sutra ćeš vidjeti, etc. All are grammatical; word order affects rhythm/emphasis.

Why is vidjet written without the final -i?

Before a following future auxiliary (ću, ćeš, će…), the infinitive commonly loses its final -i in writing: raditi → radit ću, čekati → čekat ću, vidjeti → vidjet ću/ćeš. If the auxiliary comes first, you keep the full infinitive: ću raditi, ćeš čekati, ćeš vidjeti.

Why is it na mostu and not na most?

Na takes:

Locative when it’s a static location: na mostu (on the bridge).
Accusative when it’s motion onto a surface or into a location: na most (onto the bridge).

Why is it rijeku (not rijeka) but izlaz looks unchanged?

Both rijeku and izlaz are direct objects (accusative singular). Feminine rijeka changes to rijeku in the accusative. Masculine inanimate nouns like izlaz have the same form in nominative and accusative singular, so izlaz stays izlaz.

Why is it prema parku and not prema parka?

The preposition prema governs the dative case. Park in the dative singular is parku, so prema parku means toward the park.

What’s the nuance of prema parku vs za park vs u park?

prema parku: toward/in the direction of the park (may or may not end inside it).
za park: for the park (purpose/destination, e.g., a bus or ticket), or “exit for the park” as on signage.
u park: into the park (movement into the interior).

Why is there a comma after Kad budeš na mostu?

When a subordinate clause comes first, standard punctuation puts a comma before the main clause: Kad budeš na mostu, vidjet ćeš… If the main clause comes first, the comma is usually omitted: Vidjet ćeš… kad budeš na mostu.

Is kad different from kada?

They mean the same thing. Kad is the shorter, very common form; kada is slightly more formal or emphatic. Both are fully standard: Kad/Kada budeš na mostu…

How do I negate this sentence?

In the time clause: Kad ne budeš na mostu… (When you are not on the bridge…).
In the main clause (Future I): … nećeš vidjeti rijeku… The negative combines ne
- ćeš → nećeš and normally precedes the infinitive: nećeš vidjeti (not vidjet nećeš in standard usage).

What’s the difference between Kad budeš na mostu and Kad budeš bio na mostu?

Kad budeš na mostu expresses simultaneity (when you are there, you will see…). Kad budeš bio na mostu is Future II and marks anteriority: once you have been on the bridge, … (the being on the bridge is completed before the main action). Your sentence needs simultaneity, so Kad budeš na mostu is right.

Where is “you” in the Croatian sentence?

It’s encoded in the verb endings. Budeš and ćeš are 2nd person singular, so Croatian doesn’t need a subject pronoun. You can add ti for emphasis: Kad budeš na mostu, ti ćeš vidjeti…

How do I pronounce ćeš and what’s the difference between ć and č?

Ć is a “soft” sound (somewhat like the soft t in British “Tuesday” when said quickly): ćeš ≈ “chesh” but softer.
Č is a “harder,” more strongly affricated “ch” as in English “chalk.” They are distinct phonemes and change word meanings.

How do I pronounce vidjet ćeš?

Approximate English rendering: “VEED‑yet chesh.” Notes:

dj in vidjet/vidjeti sounds like dy (not a plain j).
ćeš has the soft ć (“chesh,” softer than English ch).