Vidimo gol na televiziji.

We see a goal on television.

Breakdown of Vidimo gol na televiziji.

• vidjeti: to see
• na: on
• televizija: television
• gol: goal

Questions & Answers about Vidimo gol na televiziji.

Which word is the verb here, and what exactly does Vidimo mean?

The verb is vidimo. It is:

• the 1st person plural form (we)
• present tense
• of the verb vidjeti (to see)

So vidimo on its own means we see (or, depending on context, we will see; see a later question on this).

Why is there no word for we in the sentence?

Croatian normally drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already tells you who the subject is.

• vidim = I see
• vidiš = you (sing.) see
• vidi = he/she/it sees
• vidimo = we see
• vidite = you (pl./formal) see
• vide = they see

So Vidimo gol na televiziji already clearly means We see a goal on TV.
If you really want to emphasize the subject, you can say Mi vidimo gol na televiziji, but that stresses we (as opposed to someone else).

What is gol grammatically? Why does it look like that?

Gol is:

• a noun
• masculine gender
• singular
• in the accusative case (direct object)

For masculine inanimate nouns, the accusative singular looks the same as the nominative singular, so gol (subject form) and gol (object form) are identical in form.

In the sentence, gol is the thing that is seen, so it is in the accusative as the direct object of vidimo.

How do Croatians say a goal vs the goal if there are no articles?

Croatian has no articles like a or the. The bare noun gol can correspond to either English a goal or the goal; context decides.

If you need to be specific, you usually add a demonstrative:

• taj gol – that goal / that particular goal (near in context)
• onaj gol – that goal over there / that one (earlier, elsewhere)

So:

• Vidimo gol na televiziji. – We see a goal on TV / We see the goal on TV.
• Vidimo taj gol na televiziji. – We see that (specific) goal on TV.

Why is it na televiziji and not something that looks more like on TV?

The preposition na is used for:

• on a surface, and also
• on / in certain media or locations (similar to on TV, on the radio)

When na expresses location, it takes the locative case.
Televizija (TV as a medium) in the locative singular becomes televiziji.

So:

• nominative: televizija (television, TV as a medium)
• locative: (na) televiziji (on TV)

Meaning-wise, na televiziji matches English on TV.

Why does televizija become televiziji? What case is that?

Televiziji is the locative singular form of televizija (a regular feminine noun).

For many feminine nouns ending in -a, the locative singular ends in -i:

• škola → u školi (in the school)
• kuća → u kući (in the house)
• televizija → na televiziji (on TV)

So na televiziji literally means on (the) television in the locative case.

Can I also say na televizoru? What is the difference between na televiziji and na televizoru?

Yes, both are possible, but they are not the same:

• na televiziji – on TV as a medium (the broadcast)
  
  • You are watching a program that is being shown on television.
• na televizoru – on the TV set / device itself
  
  • Literally on the physical object, or on its screen.

In practice:

• Vidimo gol na televiziji. – We see a goal being shown on TV.
• Na televizoru je prašina. – There is dust on the TV set.

You will most often use na televiziji for programs, matches, news, etc.

Could the word order change, like Na televiziji vidimo gol or Gol vidimo na televiziji?

Yes. Croatian word order is flexible, especially compared with English. All of the following are grammatically correct:

• Vidimo gol na televiziji. (neutral/basic)
• Na televiziji vidimo gol. (emphasis on on TV, as opposed to somewhere else)
• Gol vidimo na televiziji. (emphasis on the goal as the thing we see)

The core meaning stays the same; word order mainly affects emphasis and information structure, not grammar.

What is the difference between vidjeti and gledati in this context?

• vidjeti – to see (perception; the image reaches your eyes)
• gledati – to watch / to look at (an active, intentional action)

So:

• Vidimo gol na televiziji. – We (happen to) see a goal on TV.
• Gledamo gol na televiziji. – We are watching the goal (e.g. a replay) on TV.

Both could be used in a sports context; gledati utakmicu (to watch a match) is very common.
For the simple fact that something is visible to you right now, vidjeti is more precise.

Does vidimo here mean we see (now) or we will see (in the future)?

In this specific sentence, the natural interpretation is present: We see a goal on TV (right now).

However, note this general point:

• vidjeti is a perfective verb.
• Perfective verbs in the present tense often have a future meaning, e.g.
  
  • Vidimo se sutra. – We will see each other tomorrow.

With perception verbs like vidjeti, in concrete, immediate contexts (like commenting on what is on the screen right now), speakers very commonly use the present for actual present time.

So context determines whether vidimo is we see or we will see. Here, because of na televiziji and the concrete event, it is understood as present.

How would I say We are not seeing / We cannot see the goal on TV?

To negate the verb, add ne in front of it:

• Ne vidimo gol na televiziji. – We do not see the goal on TV.
  (Depending on context, this can also mean We cannot see the goal on TV.)

If you want to express inability more clearly, you can also use ne možemo:

• Ne možemo vidjeti gol na televiziji. – We cannot see the goal on TV.

What would the sentence mean if I added se and said Vidimo se na televiziji?

Adding se makes the verb reflexive:

• Vidimo se na televiziji. literally: We see ourselves on TV.

This would be used if, for example, you and your team are appearing on a TV show or in a recorded match and you can see yourselves on the screen.

Without se:

• Vidimo gol na televiziji. – We see a goal on TV. (the goal is the thing seen)
  With se:

• Vidimo se na televiziji. – We see ourselves on TV. (you yourselves are on TV)