Learn Hardcore Croatian: Djeca obično ustaju rano.

It’s an adverb of frequency meaning usually. It modifies the verb, telling you how often something happens. Neutral placement is just before the main verb: Djeca obično ustaju rano. You can also front it for emphasis: Obično djeca ustaju rano (roughly: As a rule, children get up early).

Why is it ustaju and not ustaje?

Because djeca (children) is grammatically plural, so the verb must be in the 3rd person plural: ustaju (they get up), not ustaje (he/she/it gets up).

What’s the difference between ustajati and ustati?

ustajati = imperfective, used for habits and ongoing/repeated actions (present tense refers to now or general habits): Djeca obično ustaju rano.
ustati = perfective, used for single, completed events (its present form usually has future meaning): Djeca su jutros ustala rano (They got up early this morning).

Can I say Djeca obično ustanu rano?

Avoid that. The perfective present ustanu typically refers to the future, so combining it with obično (usually) sounds wrong. Use the imperfective: Djeca obično ustaju rano.

What gender/number is djeca, and how does agreement work?

djeca is a plural-only noun (pluralia tantum) and grammatically neuter plural.
Verbs agree in the 3rd person plural: ustaju.
Adjectives and past participles take neuter plural forms: mala djeca, djeca su došla (not: došli).
Colloquially, some speakers use masculine plural agreement with people, but standard usage with djeca is neuter plural.

If I replace djeca with a pronoun, which one do I use?

Standardly, the neuter plural pronoun ona: Ona obično ustaju rano. In everyday speech you may hear oni; for formal/standard contexts, prefer ona with neuter plural agreement.

Do I need an article like “the” before djeca?

No. Croatian has no articles. Djeca obično ustaju rano can mean either “Children usually get up early” or “The children usually get up early,” depending on context.

How is the sentence pronounced?

Djeca ≈ DYET-sah (the dj is a soft “dy” sound; c is like “ts”).
obično ≈ OH-beech-no (č = “ch” as in “church”).
ustaju ≈ OO-sta-yoo (j = English “y”).
rano ≈ RAH-no (rolled r).

Can I move the adverbs around? For example, is Djeca rano ustaju okay?

Yes. Common, natural options include:

Djeca obično ustaju rano. (neutral)
Obično djeca ustaju rano. (emphasizes the usualness)
Djeca rano ustaju. (slight emphasis on “early”)
Djeca ustaju rano. (simple statement) All are grammatical; word order affects emphasis.

What’s the difference between rano and rani?

rano is an adverb (early): ustaju rano (they get up early).
rani is an adjective (early): rani doručak (an early breakfast). Its neuter singular form is rano, as in rano jutro (early morning).

How do I say “earlier/earliest”?

Adverb: ranije (earlier), najranije (earliest).
- Djeca ustaju ranije.
Adjective: raniji/ranija/ranije (earlier), najraniji/najranija/najranije (earliest).
- raniji polazak, najranije vrijeme.

How do I say “wake up” instead of “get up”?

Use the reflexive verb buditi se / probuditi se (imperfective/perfective):

Habit: Djeca se obično bude rano. (They usually wake up early.)
One event (past): Djeca su se probudila rano. (They woke up early.) Getting up from bed is ustajati/ustati; waking is buditi se/probuditi se.

Is ustajati reflexive (do I need se)?

No. ustajati is not reflexive: Djeca obično ustaju rano. A common synonym that is reflexive is dizati se (to get up): Djeca se obično dižu rano.

Where does se go if I say dizati se?

Clitic se goes to the second position in the clause:

Djeca se obično dižu rano. If you start with Obično, it becomes: Obično se djeca dižu rano. Avoid: ✗ Djeca obično se dižu…

How do I negate the sentence?

Place ne before the verb:

Djeca obično ne ustaju rano. With a reflexive verb: Djeca se obično ne dižu rano. (The se stays after the first stressed word; ne attaches to the main verb.)

Can I add a specific time like “at six (in the morning)”?

Yes:

Djeca obično ustaju u šest (ujutro).
rano ujutro is also common: Djeca obično ustaju rano ujutro. Note: ujutro is written as one word.