Postoji rješenje za ovaj problem.

There is a solution for this problem.

Breakdown of Postoji rješenje za ovaj problem.

• za: for
• problem: problem
• ovaj: this
• rješenje: solution
• postojati: to exist

Questions & Answers about Postoji rješenje za ovaj problem.

What exactly does postoji mean here, and how is it different from ima?

Postoji literally means “exists”. So Postoji rješenje za ovaj problem is very close to “A solution exists for this problem.”

In everyday speech, Croatians also often use ima (“there is/are”):

• Ima rješenje za ovaj problem.

Differences:

• postoji – a bit more formal, neutral, and precise; focuses on existence.
• ima – more colloquial and very common in spoken language; literally “has”, but used as “there is/are”.

Both are acceptable in most everyday contexts, but in writing or more formal speech, postoji often sounds better.

Can I change the word order and say Rješenje za ovaj problem postoji?

Yes. Rješenje za ovaj problem postoji is also correct.

Meaning is the same, but the emphasis changes slightly:

• Postoji rješenje za ovaj problem. – neutral, or emphasis on the fact that there exists a solution.
• Rješenje za ovaj problem postoji. – can emphasize the solution (e.g. in contrast to some other problem where there is no solution).

Croatian word order is fairly flexible; both sentences are natural.

What form of the noun is rješenje, and why is it like that?

Rješenje is a neuter noun. In this sentence it is:

• nominative singular neuter (dictionary form): rješenje

Why nominative?

Because rješenje is the grammatical subject of the verb postoji:

• Što postoji? – Rješenje postoji.
  (What exists? – A solution exists.)

So it must stay in nominative singular: rješenje, not rješenja, rješenju, etc.

Why is it za ovaj problem? Which case is that?

The preposition za (“for”) here is followed by the accusative case.

• ovaj problem is accusative singular masculine.

Breakdown:

• ovaj (this) – masculine singular nominative and accusative form (for inanimate nouns, nominative = accusative).
• problem – masculine singular noun; nominative = accusative (because it’s inanimate).

So za + ovaj problem = “for this problem” in the accusative case.

Pattern of ovaj (this, masculine):

• Nominative: ovaj problem (this problem)
• Genitive: ovog problema (of this problem)
• Dative/Locative: ovom problemu (to/in this problem)
• Accusative: ovaj problem (this problem)
• Instrumental: ovim problemom (with this problem)

Here you need the accusative, so ovaj problem is correct.

Why isn’t it rješenja za ovaj problem? Doesn’t that also mean “solution”?

Rješenja can mean different things depending on context:

• rješenja (genitive singular) – “of a solution”
• rješenja (nominative/accusative plural) – “solutions”

In this sentence we want “(a) solution exists”, i.e. one unspecified solution as the subject. So we use the nominative singular form: rješenje.

Examples:

• Postoji rješenje za ovaj problem.
  There is a solution for this problem. (nominative singular)

• Nema rješenja za ovaj problem.
  There is no solution for this problem. (here rješenja is genitive singular after nema)

So in the positive sentence, nominative singular rješenje is needed.

Is ovaj problem exactly the same as “this problem” in English? What about taj and onaj?

Ovaj problem is “this problem”, referring to something close or current.

Three basic demonstratives (masculine singular):

• ovaj problem – this problem (near me / very current)
• taj problem – that problem (near you, or already known in context)
• onaj problem – that problem (over there / more distant, or metaphorically “that one over there”)

In many real situations, ovaj vs taj can overlap, but:

• In your sentence, ovaj problem is the most natural: “this (current) problem we’re talking about.”

Can I leave out za ovaj problem and just say Postoji rješenje?

Yes:

• Postoji rješenje. – “There is a solution.”

This is grammatically correct and natural; it’s just less specific.
Adding za ovaj problem specifies what the solution is for:

• Postoji rješenje za ovaj problem. – There is a solution for this problem (as opposed to some other problem).

Could I say rješenje ovog problema instead of rješenje za ovaj problem?

Yes, both are correct but slightly different in structure:

• rješenje za ovaj problem – literally “solution for this problem” (with za + accusative)
• rješenje ovog problema – literally “solution of this problem” (with genitive: ovog problema)

Both are common and natural. The meaning is practically the same:

• Postoji rješenje za ovaj problem.
• Postoji rješenje ovog problema.

Both: “There is a solution to/for this problem.”

How would I say “There is no solution for this problem” in Croatian?

Two very common ways:

1. Using ne postoji:

   • Ne postoji rješenje za ovaj problem.
     Literally: “A solution does not exist for this problem.”

2. Using nema:

   • Nema rješenja za ovaj problem.
     Literally: “There is no solution for this problem.”
     (Here rješenja is genitive singular after nema.)

Both are natural. Nema rješenja za ovaj problem is especially frequent in everyday speech.

Why is the verb postoji singular? Should it agree with rješenje?

It does agree with rješenje:

• rješenje – 3rd person singular neuter noun as the subject
• postoji – 3rd person singular verb form

If the subject were plural, the verb would also be plural:

• Postoje rješenja za ovaj problem.
  “There are solutions for this problem.”

So Postoji rješenje (singular) vs Postoje rješenja (plural).

How do I pronounce Postoji rješenje za ovaj problem?

Approximate pronunciation (stressed syllables in bold):

• Po-sto-ji – POH-stoh-yee
• rje-še-nje – r-ye-SHEH-ny(eh)
• za – zah
• o-vaj – OH-vai
• pro-blem – PROH-blehm

Whole sentence:
POH-stoh-yee r-ye-SHEH-nye zah OH-vai PROH-blehm.

Notes:

• rj in rješenje is like English r
  • palatal y sound: r-ye.
• Each vowel is clearly pronounced; there are no diphthongs.
• Word stress is usually on the first or sometimes second syllable; avoid stressing the very end.