Prije utakmice u dvorani kratko šetamo oko igrališta, a ostatak ekipe sjedi na klupi.

Before the match in the hall we take a short walk around the field, and the rest of the team sits on the bench.

Breakdown of Prije utakmice u dvorani kratko šetamo oko igrališta, a ostatak ekipe sjedi na klupi.

• u: in
• a: and
• sjediti: to sit
• prije: before
• na: on
• šetati: to stroll
• oko: around
• ekipa: team
• igralište: field
• dvorana: hall
• utakmica: match
• kratko: briefly
• ostatak: rest
• klupa: bench

Questions & Answers about Prije utakmice u dvorani kratko šetamo oko igrališta, a ostatak ekipe sjedi na klupi.

Why is it prije utakmice and not prije utakmica or prije utakmicae?

The preposition prije (before) always takes the genitive case.

• utakmica = nominative singular (a match)
• utakmice = genitive singular (of a match)

So:

• prije utakmice = before the match (literally: before of-the-match)

This is the regular pattern:

• prije škole (before school)
• prije ručka (before lunch)
• prije treninga (before training)

utakmica → genitive singular utakmice is just the normal declension of that noun.

Why is it u dvorani and not u dvoranu?

The preposition u can take either locative or accusative:

• u
  • locative = being inside somewhere (static location)
• u
  • accusative = movement into somewhere (direction)

Here, u dvorani is locative singular:

• dvorana (hall, gym) → locative u dvorani = in the hall

If you were saying we are going into the hall, you would use:

• Idemo u dvoranu. (accusative – movement into)

Does u dvorani belong to prije utakmice (the match in the hall) or to kratko šetamo (we walk in the hall)?

Grammatically, it’s slightly ambiguous, and both readings are possible:

1. Before the match that takes place in the hall, we briefly walk around the court…

   • Here u dvorani describes utakmice (the match in the hall).

2. Before the match, we briefly walk around the court in the hall…

   • Here u dvorani describes kratko šetamo (we walk in the hall).

In real life, context usually makes it clear. If a speaker wanted to be unambiguous, they could say, for example:

• Prije utakmice u dvorani, … (more likely “match in the hall”)
• Prije utakmice kratko šetamo u dvorani oko igrališta… (clearly “we walk in the hall”)

What exactly is kratko doing here? Is it an adjective or an adverb?

In this sentence kratko is an adverb that modifies the verb šetamo:

• kratko šetamo = we walk briefly / we take a short walk

Compare:

• kratak – short (adjective, masculine)
• kratka šetnja – a short walk (adjective + noun)
• šetamo kratko – we walk briefly (adverb)

So kratko tells you how you walk, not what is short as a noun.

Why is it šetamo and not šetamo se? What’s the difference?

Both šetamo and šetamo se exist, but there is a nuance:

• šetamo = we walk (neutral, can be purposeful movement)
• šetamo se = we are taking a stroll / we’re going for a walk (more clearly a leisure/stroll meaning)

In sports contexts, šetamo oko igrališta already clearly means we’re walking around the field, so the reflexive se is optional. With se, the focus would be a bit more on the idea of a stroll or warming up.

Why is it oko igrališta and not oko igralištu / igralište?

The preposition oko (around) takes the genitive case.

• igralište (court, playground) → genitive singular igrališta

So:

• oko igrališta = around the court

Do not confuse this oko (preposition “around”) with:

• oko = eye (a noun, declined differently)

Here it is clearly the preposition, followed by genitive.

What does ostatak ekipe mean exactly, and what are the cases here?

ostatak ekipe literally means the rest of the team.

Grammatically:

• ostatak = nominative singular, masculine noun (the rest / remainder) – this is the subject
• ekipe = genitive singular of ekipa (of the team)

So:

• ostatak ekipe sjedi… = the rest of the team sits…

Pattern is the same as:

• dio ekipe – part of the team
• pola ekipe – half of the team
• većina ekipe – the majority of the team

In all these, the first noun is in nominative (subject), and the second is in genitive (of what?).

Why is it ostatak ekipe sjedi (singular) and not ostatak ekipe sjede (plural)?

The grammatical subject is ostatak (the rest), which is singular. The verb agrees with the grammatical subject, not with the people included in that group.

So:

• Ostatak ekipe sjedi.
  Literally: The rest of the team sits.

This is similar to English constructions like:

• The rest of the team *is sitting on the bench.* (singular verb with “the rest”)

In Croatian, you sometimes do hear people say ostatak ekipe sjede, but that’s considered colloquial or less standard. The standard form is sjedi (singular).

Why is it na klupi and not na klupa / na klupu?

The preposition na can take locative or accusative:

• na
  • locative = location on something (where?)
• na
  • accusative = movement onto something (where to?)

Here, sjedi na klupi describes location (they are sitting where?), so you use locative:

• klupa (bench) → locative na klupi = on the bench

Compare:

• Sjedim na klupi. – I am sitting on the bench. (locative)
• Sjedam na klupu. – I am sitting down on the bench. (accusative, movement onto)

What is the difference between a and i here? Could you use i instead of a?

Both a and i are conjunctions:

• i = and (adds similar things, neutral)
• a = and / while / whereas (often marks contrast or a different situation)

In the sentence:

• … kratko šetamo oko igrališta, a ostatak ekipe sjedi na klupi.

a suggests a mild contrast: we are walking, while the rest of the team is sitting.

If you used i:

• … kratko šetamo oko igrališta, i ostatak ekipe sjedi na klupi.

it would sound more like simple addition: we walk around the court, and the rest of the team sits on the bench – with less contrastive feel. a is more natural here.

Why is there no mi (we) before kratko šetamo?

Croatian is a pro-drop language: subject pronouns are usually omitted because the verb ending already shows the person and number.

• šetamo = 1st person plural (we walk)

So:

• Mi kratko šetamo oko igrališta. – possible, but mi is emphatic (we as opposed to someone else)
• Kratko šetamo oko igrališta. – normal, neutral

You only add mi when you want to stress the subject:

• Mi šetamo, a oni sjede. – We walk, and they sit.

Why is the present tense (šetamo, sjedi) used? Is this about right now or about a routine?

In Croatian, the present tense is used:

1. For actions happening right now:

   • Sada šetamo oko igrališta. – We are walking around the court now.

2. For habits / routines / typical behaviour:

   • Prije utakmice kratko šetamo oko igrališta.
     = Before a match, we (typically) take a short walk around the court.

Your sentence is most naturally understood as describing a regular pre-game routine, not just one particular occasion. Context could also allow a “right now” reading if you’re narrating what is currently happening before today’s match.

Can the word order be changed? For example, can I say Kratko šetamo oko igrališta prije utakmice u dvorani?

Yes, Croatian word order is fairly flexible, especially with adverbials (time, place, manner). You could say:

• Prije utakmice u dvorani kratko šetamo oko igrališta. (original)
• Kratko šetamo oko igrališta prije utakmice u dvorani.
• Kratko prije utakmice u dvorani šetamo oko igrališta.
• Oko igrališta kratko šetamo prije utakmice u dvorani.

They are all grammatically correct, but they differ in focus and rhythm:

• Putting prije utakmice u dvorani first highlights when this happens.
• Starting with kratko šetamo highlights the action itself.
• Fronting oko igrališta would emphasise around the court.

The original order is very natural and neutral for spoken and written Croatian.