Danas je nebo bez oblaka.

to be

Breakdown of Danas je nebo bez oblaka.

• danas: today
• bez: without
• nebo: sky

Questions & Answers about Danas je nebo bez oblaka.

What does each word in Danas je nebo bez oblaka literally mean, and what are their parts of speech?

Word by word:

• danas – today

  • Part of speech: adverb (of time)

• je – is

  • Part of speech: 3rd person singular present of biti (to be)

• nebo – sky

  • Part of speech: noun, neuter gender, singular, nominative case

• bez – without

  • Part of speech: preposition; it requires the genitive case

• oblaka – of clouds / clouds’ (as in without clouds)

  • Part of speech: noun oblak (cloud), masculine, genitive plural form

So the structure is literally: Today is sky without clouds.

Why is the verb je (is) necessary here? Could I just say Danas nebo bez oblaka?

You need the verb je here. Croatian usually keeps the verb biti (to be) in the present tense in normal statements like this.

• Correct: Danas je nebo bez oblaka.
• Incorrect / ungrammatical as a sentence: Danas nebo bez oblaka.