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

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)