Learn Hardcore Croatian: Sutra idem slušati večernje predavanje na konferenciji. - Tomorrow I am going to listen to an evening lecture at the conference.

In Croatian, the present tense is very often used for near or planned future actions, especially when there is a clear time expression like sutra (tomorrow).

Sutra idem slušati... = Tomorrow I’m going (to) listen...
This is completely natural Croatian.
You can also say sutra ću ići slušati..., but it sounds heavier and less usual in everyday speech when you already have sutra and idem.

So: present tense + a future time word is a normal way to talk about the future in Croatian.

What’s the difference between sutra idem slušati predavanje and sutra ću slušati predavanje?

Both can refer to a future event, but the focus is slightly different:

Sutra idem slušati predavanje
Literally: Tomorrow I’m going to listen to a lecture.
Emphasis is on the going (movement + plan) and the activity.
Sutra ću slušati predavanje
Literally: Tomorrow I will listen to a lecture.
Emphasis is more directly on the future action listening.

In conversation, sutra idem slušati... sounds very natural for a scheduled activity, a bit like English I’m going to a lecture tomorrow.

Why is the verb form slušati used after idem? Is this an infinitive?

Yes, slušati is the infinitive form, roughly corresponding to English to listen.

The pattern ići + infinitive is very common and expresses a planned activity or purpose:

Idem spavati. – I’m going to sleep.
Idemo jesti. – We’re going to eat.
Idem slušati predavanje. – I’m going to listen to a lecture.

So idem slušati = I’m going (in order) to listen.

Why is it večernje predavanje, not večernji predavanje?

Because adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

predavanje is neuter, singular.
In the accusative singular (used here as the direct object), neuter looks the same as nominative: predavanje.
The adjective večernji (evening) must match:
- masculine: večernji (večernji film)
- feminine: večernja (večernja misa)
- neuter: večernje (večernje predavanje)

So the correct form is večernje predavanje because predavanje is neuter.

What case is večernje predavanje in, and why?

Večernje predavanje is in the accusative singular.

Reason: it’s the direct object of the verb slušati.

slušati + what? → predavanje (a lecture)
Direct objects of transitive verbs are typically in the accusative.

Because predavanje is a neuter noun, its accusative singular form is the same as its nominative: predavanje. The adjective agrees and appears as večernje (neuter accusative singular).

Why is it na konferenciji and not na konferenciju?

The preposition na can take either locative or accusative, depending on meaning:

na + locative → location (where?): na konferenciji – at the conference
na + accusative → direction (to where?): na konferenciju – to the conference

In this sentence, the idea is that the lecture happens at the conference (location), not that you are going to the conference as a destination. So na konferenciji (locative) is correct.

How do I know that konferenciji is locative, not dative?

In the singular, many feminine nouns in -a have the same form for dative and locative:

Dative singular: konferenciji (to the conference)
Locative singular: konferenciji (at the conference)

You tell them apart from context and the preposition:

With na, when it means at/on (a place), it’s locative: na konferenciji.
With na, when it means onto/to, it’s accusative: na konferenciju.
Without a preposition, konferenciji is usually dative (to/for the conference), but that would be used in different kinds of sentences.

Here, na + konferenciji = locative (place).

Could I say sutra ću ići na večernje predavanje na konferenciji instead? Is that wrong?

It’s grammatically correct, but stylistically heavier.

Sutra idem slušati večernje predavanje na konferenciji.
More natural, conversational; emphasizes the activity of listening.
Sutra ću ići na večernje predavanje na konferenciji.
Also correct; emphasizes the going to the lecture as an event. More neutral/formal, and feels a bit more distant.

In everyday speech, the original sentence is more typical for talking about your plans.

Can the word order change? For example, can I say Idem sutra slušati večernje predavanje na konferenciji?

Yes, Croatian word order is relatively flexible, and Idem sutra slušati večernje predavanje na konferenciji is correct.

Some common variants:

Sutra idem slušati večernje predavanje na konferenciji. (neutral; time first)
Idem sutra slušati večernje predavanje na konferenciji. (slight emphasis on idem)
Sutra slušam večernje predavanje na konferenciji. (present used for future, without idem)

All of these are understandable; shifting words mainly affects emphasis or style, not basic meaning.

What exactly is the difference between slušati and čuti?

slušati = to listen (actively)
You choose to pay attention with your ears.
- Slušam predavanje. – I’m listening to the lecture.
čuti = to hear (perceive sound)
The sound reaches your ears, whether or not you focus on it.
- Čujem glazbu. – I hear music.

In this sentence, slušati predavanje is correct because a lecture is something you listen to, not just hear.

Is there any aspect difference here? Could I say sutra idem poslušati večernje predavanje instead of slušati?

Yes, this brings in verb aspect:

slušati – imperfective: the process of listening.
poslušati – perfective: the completed act of listening (from start to finish).

So:

Sutra idem slušati večernje predavanje.
Focus on the activity of listening, being there for it.
Sutra idem poslušati večernje predavanje.
Suggests more clearly that you plan to listen to the whole lecture, to complete that action.

Both are possible; slušati is more neutral, poslušati emphasizes completion/result a bit more.

Why isn’t there a separate word for to before slušati, like in English to listen?

In Croatian, the infinitive is a single word ending in -ti (or sometimes -ći, -sti etc.). That ending itself carries the meaning of to:

slušati – (to) listen
ići – (to) go
čitati – (to) read

You don’t need (and can’t add) a separate particle like English to. The form slušati already includes that idea.

How do I pronounce večernje predavanje and konferenciji, especially č, nj, and c?

Key sounds:

č in večernje: like ch in church (a hard “ch”).
- ve-ČER-nje
nj in večernje: like ny in canyon or Spanish ñ.
- The nj is a single palatal sound, not two separate letters n + j.
c in konferenciji: like ts in cats.
- kon-fe-REN-ci-ji → ci = tsee
ji in konferenciji: j is like English y in yes, so ji is like yee.

Very rough approximations:

sutra idem slušati večernje predavanje na konferenciji
→ SOO-tra EE-dem SLOO-sha-tee VEH-cher-nye pre-DA-va-nye na kon-fe-REN-tsee-yee