Breakdown of U ormaru držim zimsku odjeću, a ljetnu odjeću stavljam na policu iznad vrata.
Questions & Answers about U ormaru držim zimsku odjeću, a ljetnu odjeću stavljam na policu iznad vrata.
In Croatian, the preposition u can take either the locative or the accusative case:
- u + locative = location, where something is
- u ormaru = in the wardrobe (static location)
- u + accusative = direction, into somewhere
- u ormar = into the wardrobe (movement into)
In the sentence U ormaru držim zimsku odjeću, you are keeping winter clothes in the wardrobe (no movement), so you use locative → ormaru.
If the sentence described putting the clothes into the wardrobe at this moment, you might say:
Stavljam zimsku odjeću u ormar. = I’m putting winter clothes into the wardrobe.
Because zimsku odjeću is the direct object of the verb držim, so it must be in the accusative case.
- Nominative (dictionary form):
- zimska odjeća – winter clothes (subject form)
- Accusative (object form, feminine singular):
- zimsku odjeću – winter clothes (as the thing you keep)
The noun odjeća (clothing, clothes) is:
- Feminine
- Usually singular only (mass noun, like “furniture” in English)
So when it’s the object, both the adjective and the noun change:
- zimska odjeća → zimsku odjeću
- ljetna odjeća → ljetnu odjeću
In Croatian, odjeća is a mass noun, similar to English furniture or luggage:
- odjeća literally means clothing, apparel as a mass
- Grammatically it is feminine singular
So:
- zimsku odjeću = winter clothes
- ljetnu odjeću = summer clothes
If you want to talk about individual items (shirts, trousers, etc.), you normally use words like:
- odjeća – clothing (mass)
- odjevni predmeti – clothing items
- haljina – dress
- majica – T‑shirt, etc.
But for the general idea of “clothes”, odjeća in singular is standard.
Yes. Croatian regularly drops subject pronouns when the subject is clear from the verb ending.
- ja držim → držim (I keep)
- ja stavljam → stavljam (I put)
The endings -im and -am clearly show 1st person singular, so ja is not necessary.
You only add ja when you want to emphasize I specifically:
- Ja u ormaru držim zimsku odjeću…
→ I keep the winter clothes in the wardrobe (implying maybe others don’t).
Croatian has several coordinating conjunctions, each with a nuance:
- i = and (simple addition)
- a = and / while / whereas (mild contrast or “different situation”)
- ali = but (stronger contrast)
In the sentence:
- U ormaru držim zimsku odjeću, a ljetnu odjeću stavljam na policu iznad vrata.
a shows a contrast between what happens with winter clothes and what happens with summer clothes. English might translate this as either:
- I keep winter clothes in the wardrobe, *and I put summer clothes on the shelf above the door.*, or
- …while summer clothes I put on the shelf above the door.
Using i here would sound more like just listing two similar actions without highlighting the contrast.
Using ali would be too strong, more like: but on the other hand.
It’s completely normal to repeat the noun, especially in a clear, neutral sentence.
But in everyday speech, you can omit it the second time because it is understood from context:
- U ormaru držim zimsku odjeću, a ljetnu stavljam na policu iznad vrata.
Here ljetnu clearly refers back to odjeću, so you don’t need to say odjeću again.
Both versions are correct:
- With repetition: a bit more explicit and clear.
- Without repetition: a bit more natural and less wordy in spoken Croatian.
The preposition na behaves similarly to u:
- na + locative = location (on something, where?)
- na polici = on the shelf (static location)
- na + accusative = direction (onto something, where to?)
- na policu = onto the shelf (movement to a surface)
In the sentence …ljetnu odjeću stavljam na policu…, the verb stavljam expresses putting/placing (movement), so you need accusative → policu.
Policu iznad vrata is a noun phrase:
- policu – shelf (accusative singular, feminine, object of stavljam)
- iznad vrata – above the door, a prepositional phrase modifying policu
The preposition iznad (above) always takes the genitive case:
- dictionary form: vrata = door / doors (plural-only noun)
- genitive plural: vrata (same form, different case)
So:
- iznad vrata = above the door (literally above of the door)
You recognize it as genitive because of the rule iznad + genitive, not because the word vrata visibly changes form here.
In Croatian, vrata (door, doors) is a plural-only noun (pluralia tantum). There is effectively no normal singular form used in everyday language.
So:
- vrata = the door / the doors
- iznad vrata = above the door (or above the doors)
Even when English says “door” in singular, Croatian commonly uses vrata in plural.
Both verbs are in the present tense, 1st person singular, and they are imperfective:
- držati → držim = I keep / I hold (habitual or ongoing)
- stavljati → stavljam = I put / I place (regularly, habitually)
Imperfective aspect is used for:
- Habits: what you usually do
- General truths or ongoing actions
The sentence describes a general habit: where you usually keep winter and summer clothes.
If you were describing a single completed action, you would use the perfective partners:
- staviti → stavim (I put once / I will put in a single act)
E.g.:
Danas ću staviti ljetnu odjeću na policu iznad vrata.
= Today I’m going to put the summer clothes on the shelf above the door.
Yes, you can say:
- Držim zimsku odjeću u ormaru, a ljetnu odjeću stavljam na policu iznad vrata.
Croatian word order is relatively flexible. Both:
- U ormaru držim zimsku odjeću…
- Držim zimsku odjeću u ormaru…
are correct and mean the same thing. The difference is only focus:
- Starting with U ormaru slightly emphasizes location: In the wardrobe, I keep winter clothes…
- Starting with Držim is more neutral: I keep winter clothes in the wardrobe…
There is no change in basic meaning, just a subtle difference in emphasis.