Questions & Answers about Čija je ova stolica u učionici?
What does čija agree with here—the owner or the noun stolica?
It agrees with the possessed noun, not the owner. Because stolica is feminine singular, the question word is čija (fem. sg. nominative). Other nominative forms are: čiji (masc. sg.), čije (neut. sg.).
Why is je placed right after Čija instead of after stolica?
Je is a clitic (the unstressed form of biti = to be) and Croatian puts clitics in the second position of the clause. The first word here is Čija, so the clitic follows it: Čija je ova stolica…. Patterns like Čija ova stolica je… sound wrong.
Why ova and not ovaj or ovo?
Demonstratives agree with the noun’s gender and number:
- ovaj (masc.), ova (fem.), ovo (neut.). Since stolica is feminine, you use ova: ova stolica.
Can I also say Čija je ovo stolica? Is there any difference?
Yes, that’s very common and fully correct.
- Čija je ova stolica? points directly to the specific chair (the demonstrative matches the noun).
- uses as a stand‑alone pronoun meaning “this (thing)”, with as the predicate noun. Both mean essentially the same in everyday speech.