Questions & Answers about Ulaz je zatvoren danas.
Is the word order in “Ulaz je zatvoren danas” natural, or should “danas” go earlier?
It’s correct, but most speakers prefer to place the time word earlier: either Ulaz je danas zatvoren or Danas je ulaz zatvoren. Those sound a bit more neutral/idiomatic. Your original sentence is perfectly understandable, just slightly less typical.
Why is it “zatvoren” and not “zatvoreno”?
Agreement. Ulaz is masculine singular, so the predicate adjective/participle must also be masculine singular: zatvoren.
- Masculine sg: zatvoren
- Feminine sg: zatvorena (e.g., Trgovina je zatvorena.)
- Neuter sg: zatvoreno (e.g., impersonal signs: Zatvoreno)
- Plurals: masc pl zatvoreni, fem pl zatvorene, neut pl zatvorena (e.g., Svi ulazi su zatvoreni.)
What case is “ulaz” here, and why not “ulaza”?
It’s nominative singular, because ulaz is the subject. Ulaza is genitive singular (“of the entrance”), used after certain prepositions or to show possession, e.g., zbog zatvorenog ulaza = “because of the closed entrance.”
Do I need the verb “je”? Can I write “Ulaz zatvoren danas”?
In normal sentences you need je (present of “to be”) to link the subject and predicate: Ulaz je zatvoren danas. On signs, notices, or headlines, Croatian often drops it: Ulaz zatvoren danas is fine as a notice.
Is this passive voice or just an adjective?
It can be read as a stative/resultative passive (“is closed” as a state). If you want an eventive passive with an agent, you can add one: Ulaz je zatvoren (od strane) policije. Or use an active sentence: Policija je zatvorila ulaz.
How do I ask “Is the entrance closed today?”
Use the standard yes/no question with “je li”:
- Je li ulaz danas zatvoren? You can also say: Je li danas ulaz zatvoren? Note: Da li je… is common regionally/in speech, but je li is the standard in Croatian.
Why does “je” come right after the first word?
Because je is a clitic that normally sits in second position in the clause. It follows the first stressed word or phrase:
- Ulaz je danas zatvoren.
- Danas je ulaz zatvoren.
- Zbog radova je ulaz zatvoren.
Can I say “Ulaz je zatvoreno”?
Not with ulaz. Zatvoreno is neuter singular and wouldn’t agree with the masculine ulaz. Use Ulaz je zatvoren. You can use the neuter impersonal alone on a sign: Zatvoreno (danas).
What’s the plural version if there are several entrances?
Use plural agreement:
- Ulazi su zatvoreni danas. You can add emphasis: Svi ulazi su danas zatvoreni. Note the plural verb su and plural adjective zatvoreni.
How do I add a reason like “because of construction”?
Use zbog + genitive:
- Ulaz je danas zatvoren zbog radova. Other useful additions:
- Ulaz je zatvoren za javnost. (“closed to the public”)
- Ulaz je privremeno zatvoren. (“temporarily closed”)
What’s the difference between “zatvoren” and “zaključan”?
- zatvoren = closed (not open/accessible), often about hours, access, or policy.
- zaključan = locked (physically secured with a lock). So the entrance can be “closed” without being physically “locked,” and vice versa.
What’s the difference between “ulaz” and “ulazak”?
- ulaz = entrance (the place/entry point; also “admission” as in “free entry” = besplatan ulaz)
- ulazak = the act of entering (“entry,” as an action), e.g., Ulazak je zabranjen.
There are no articles in Croatian—so how do I say “the entrance”?
Context usually covers definiteness. Ulaz typically reads as “the entrance.” If you need to be explicit, use demonstratives:
- taj ulaz = that entrance
- ovaj ulaz = this entrance
- onaj ulaz = that entrance (over there)
How do I negate it: “The entrance is not closed today”?
Use nije (negative of “je”) and keep it in second position:
- Ulaz danas nije zatvoren.
- Danas ulaz nije zatvoren. Word order tweaks can shift emphasis (e.g., placing “danas” first emphasizes “today”).
Is a comma needed if I put “danas” first?
No comma is needed after a single initial adverb:
- Danas je ulaz zatvoren. (no comma)
How do I talk about schedules, like “The entrance closes at 8 p.m.” vs “is closed”?
For scheduled closing, use the present tense of the verb:
- Ulaz se zatvara u 20 sati. (“The entrance closes at 20:00.”) For the state/result:
- Ulaz je zatvoren nakon 20 sati. (“The entrance is closed after 20:00.”) Avoid forms like Ulaz je zatvaran danas unless you mean repeated/habitual action in the past (“was being/used to be closed”).
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