Večeras učim hrvatski s rječnikom.

Tonight I am studying Croatian with a dictionary.

Breakdown of Večeras učim hrvatski s rječnikom.

• hrvatski: Croatian
• večeras: tonight
• s: with
• učiti: to study
• rječnik: vocabulary

Questions & Answers about Večeras učim hrvatski s rječnikom.

Why is the present tense učim used when in English we say “I am studying / I will study this evening”?

In Croatian, the simple present tense is often used for future arrangements that are very near in time, especially with an adverb like večeras (this evening), sutra (tomorrow), etc.

• Večeras učim hrvatski.
  = This evening I’m studying Croatian / I’ll be studying Croatian.

This is perfectly natural Croatian. You can also use a future form (Večeras ću učiti hrvatski), but the simple present with a time adverb is very common and sounds slightly more immediate or scheduled, much like “I’m studying this evening” in English.

Why is the subject ja (“I”) missing? Shouldn’t it be Ja večeras učim hrvatski s rječnikom?

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

• učim = I study / I am studying
• učiš = you study
• uči = he/she/it studies

Because učim clearly marks 1st person singular, ja is not needed:

• Večeras učim hrvatski s rječnikom. – normal, neutral
• Ja večeras učim hrvatski s rječnikom. – also correct, but adds emphasis on ja (I am the one who’s studying, as opposed to someone else).

What case is hrvatski in, and why does it end in -ski?

Hrvatski here is in the accusative singular masculine and functions as the object of the verb učim (I study).

There are two closely related ideas here:

1. As an adjective: hrvatski jezik = Croatian language

   • hrvatski (masc. nom. sg. adj.) + jezik (masc. nom. sg. noun)

2. In everyday speech, the noun jezik is often omitted, so hrvatski is used on its own to mean Croatian (language):

   • Učim hrvatski. = I’m learning Croatian.

Because učiti takes a direct object in the accusative, hrvatski is in the accusative form. For this type of adjective/noun, nominative and accusative singular masculine are identical: hrvatski.

What case is rječnikom, and what does s rječnikom literally mean?

Rječnikom is in the instrumental singular of the noun rječnik (dictionary).

• Nominative: rječnik – a dictionary
• Instrumental: rječnikom – with (a/the) dictionary

The preposition s (or sa) + instrumental typically means:

• with someone/something (accompaniment)
• using something as a tool/instrument

In your sentence:

• s rječnikom = with a dictionary (using a dictionary as a tool to study)

Why is it s rječnikom and not sa rječnikom?

Both s and sa mean with when used with the instrumental case. The choice is mainly phonetic (for easier pronunciation):

• s is the basic form.
• sa is used:
  • before words starting with s, z, š, ž (to avoid tongue-twisters):
    sa sestrom, sa Željkom
  • sometimes before certain consonant clusters, or just for euphony/emphasis.

Since rječnikom starts with r, the simple form s is used:

• ✅ s rječnikom – correct and natural
• ❌ sa rječnikom – grammatically possible but sounds odd and is not used in practice.

Is učim more like “study” or “learn”? What’s the difference between učiti and naučiti?

Učiti is an imperfective verb – it focuses on the process:

• učim hrvatski = I am studying/learning Croatian (ongoing activity)

Naučiti is the perfective partner – it focuses on the result (having learned):

• Naučio sam hrvatski. = I have learned Croatian / I learned Croatian (I know it now).

So:

• Večeras učim hrvatski s rječnikom.
  = This evening I’ll be in the process of studying/learning Croatian with a dictionary.

If you said:

• Večeras ću naučiti hrvatski.
  you would be saying something like This evening I will learn Croatian (completely) – which is usually unrealistic and sounds a bit humorous or exaggerated.

Can I say učim se hrvatski like in some other Slavic languages?

No, not with a direct object like that. In standard Croatian:

• učiti nešto = to study/learn something (transitive)
  
  • Učim hrvatski.

There is also učiti se, but then it does not take a direct object and is less common in this meaning:

• Učim se. – I am learning (in general, I am learning / I’m being taught).

So for “I’m learning Croatian”, you should say:

• ✅ Učim hrvatski.
• ❌ Učim se hrvatski.

Why doesn’t Croatian use a continuous form like “I am studying”?

Croatian does not have a separate continuous/progressive tense like English. The simple present covers:

• habitual actions:
  
  • Svaki dan učim hrvatski. – I study Croatian every day.
• actions happening right now or around now:
  
  • Večeras učim hrvatski. – I am studying Croatian this evening.

Context (time adverbs like večeras, sad, obično) tells you whether it’s a general habit or a specific ongoing action.

Can I move večeras to another place in the sentence, like Učim večeras hrvatski s rječnikom?

Yes, Croatian word order is fairly flexible, and večeras can move, with slight changes in emphasis.

All of these are grammatically correct:

1. Večeras učim hrvatski s rječnikom.
   – Neutral, very natural; sets time first.

2. Učim večeras hrvatski s rječnikom.
   – A bit more emphasis on učim first; still natural.

3. Učim hrvatski s rječnikom večeras.
   – Puts more weight on večeras at the end, as a kind of afterthought or focus.

The original version is the most typical, but the others are not wrong; they just feel stylistically a bit different.

Could the word order be Večeras učim s rječnikom hrvatski?

That word order is technically possible, but it sounds unnatural in everyday speech.

Native speakers strongly prefer to keep:

• the verb + direct object (učim hrvatski) together,
• and then add the prepositional phrase (s rječnikom) either right after the verb or after the object.

So the most natural patterns are:

• Večeras učim hrvatski s rječnikom.
• Večeras učim s rječnikom hrvatski. – possible, but less usual
• Večeras učim hrvatski s rječnikom. is by far the best choice.

Why aren’t there any articles like “a” or “the” before hrvatski or rječnikom?

Croatian has no articles (no a/an or the). Definiteness and indefiniteness are understood from context, word order, and sometimes pronouns or demonstratives (e.g. taj, ovaj, onaj).

So:

• učim hrvatski can mean:

  • I am learning Croatian (in general, the language),
  • or, depending on context, I am learning the Croatian (material).

• s rječnikom can be understood as:

  • with a dictionary (any dictionary),
  • or with the dictionary (a specific one just mentioned).

English must choose between a/the, but Croatian does not.

How is večeras formed, and does it literally mean “this evening”?

Yes, večeras literally means “this evening / tonight (this evening)” and is treated as a single adverb.

Historically, it comes from veče (older word for evening, now večer) + a deictic element -as indicating “this”. You don’t need to break it apart in modern usage; you simply learn it as a fixed adverb:

• večeras – this evening / tonight (in the evening)
• jutros – this morning
• danas – today
• sutra – tomorrow

So Večeras učim hrvatski s rječnikom. is exactly “This evening I’m studying Croatian with a dictionary.”