Learn Hardcore Croatian: Bez obzira na to što je svemir dalek i daleko izvan našeg grada, on se osjeća povezan s njim. - Regardless of the fact that space is far and far outside our city, he feels connected to it.

Put together, bez obzira na to što is like “without regard to the fact that…” and it introduces a concessive clause (something that is true despite a certain fact):

Bez obzira na to što je svemir dalek…
= Regardless of the fact that the universe is far away…

Why do we have both dalek and daleko in svemir dalek i daleko izvan našeg grada? Aren’t they the same word?

They are related but not the same:

dalek = adjective, “far, distant”
- svemir je dalek = the universe is far (distant)
daleko = adverb, “far (away)”
- svemir je daleko = the universe is far away

In the sentence, dalek i daleko izvan našeg grada is a stylistic repetition:

dalek describes the universe as distant in general
daleko izvan našeg grada emphasizes how it is far away – “far outside/beyond our town”

So it’s not a mistake; it’s a rhetorical way to stress the distance: “far, and far beyond our town.”

Why is it izvan našeg grada, with našeg grada in that form? Which case is that?

Našeg grada is in the genitive singular.

Base forms: naš grad = our town
Genitive: našeg grada

The preposition izvan (outside of, beyond) always takes the genitive case:

izvan grada = outside (the) town
izvan našeg grada = outside our town
izvan kuće = outside the house

So the form našeg grada is required by the preposition izvan.

What is the difference between izvan and van? Could I say daleko van našeg grada instead?

Both izvan and van can mean “outside (of)”, but there are some nuances:

izvan
- more neutral or slightly formal
- used very commonly in both speech and writing
- takes genitive: izvan našeg grada, izvan kuće
van
- more colloquial/spoken, often used as “out / outside” on its own
- can appear with a preposition or particle-like: van grada, van iz kuće (spoken, not always textbook)

You can hear van našeg grada, but in standard, clear Croatian izvan našeg grada is more natural and precise in this sentence. So the original daleko izvan našeg grada is the best choice here.

Who or what does on refer to, and is it necessary to say on here?

On is the pronoun “he” (masculine singular). It refers to some person mentioned earlier in the context (the one who feels connected to the universe).

In Croatian you often omit subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the person:

on se osjeća = he feels
osjeća se = (he) feels

So you could also say:

Bez obzira na to što je svemir dalek i daleko izvan našeg grada, osjeća se povezan s njim.

Including on adds a bit of emphasis or clarity, but grammatically it’s optional.

Why is it on se osjeća, with se, and not just on osjeća?

The verb here is osjećati se = “to feel (a certain way)”. It is reflexive:

osjećam se dobro = I feel good
on se osjeća umorno = he feels tired

If you say on osjeća, that means “he feels (something)” in the sense of perceiving:

on osjeća bol = he feels pain
on osjeća hladnoću = he feels the cold

In your sentence, we are talking about his internal state, so we must use the reflexive form:

on se osjeća povezan = he feels connected

Can the word order of se change? For example, is on osjeća se povezan possible?

Se is a clitic (an unstressed short word) and in Croatian it normally goes in the second position in the clause.

Correct options here include:

On se osjeća povezan s njim. (most neutral)
Osjeća se povezan s njim. (without on)

But:

On osjeća se povezan s njim. – sounds wrong / very unnatural

So keep se in the second position of the clause: after the first “real” word (often the subject).

Why is it povezan and not another form, and what would change if the subject were female?

Povezan is the masculine singular form of the past participle/adjectival form of povezati / povezivati (to connect). Here it functions as an adjective: “connected”.

It must agree with the subject on (he, masculine singular):

On se osjeća povezan s njim. = He feels connected to it/him.

If the subject were:

feminine singular: Ona se osjeća povezana s njim.
neuter singular: Ono se osjeća povezano s njim.
masculine plural: Oni se osjećaju povezani s njim.
feminine plural: One se osjećaju povezane s njim.

So the ending of povezan always matches the gender and number of the subject.

What case is s njim, and why do we use s (or sa) here?

S njim uses the instrumental case of on:

nominative: on (he)
instrumental: njim (with him/it)

The preposition s / sa plus instrumental often means “with” (together/connected with):

s prijateljima = with friends
s tobom = with you
povezan s njim = connected with him/it

As for s vs sa:

s is the default: s njim, s tobom, s njima
sa is used mainly:
- before words starting with s, z, š, ž (to avoid tongue-twisters): sa sestrom, sa ženom
- before difficult consonant clusters: sa psom, sa mnom

Here s njim is completely standard and natural.

Could we say povezan s njime instead of povezan s njim? Is there any difference?

Yes, you can also say:

povezan s njime

Both s njim and s njime are correct instrumental forms of on.

Nuance:

s njim – more common, neutral, everyday
s njime – a bit more emphatic or formal, sometimes used to avoid ambiguity or for rhythm

In your sentence, both sound fine; povezan s njim is slightly more colloquial/neutral.

Is the comma before on se osjeća necessary, and what’s the basic punctuation rule here?

Yes, the comma is necessary.

The structure is:

Bez obzira na to što je svemir dalek i daleko izvan našeg grada,
(subordinate concessive clause)
on se osjeća povezan s njim.
(main clause)

In Croatian, you normally separate a subordinate clause from the main clause with a comma, especially when the subordinate clause comes first and is introduced by words like što, kad, iako, dok, jer, etc.

So the comma in:

Bez obzira na to što je svemir dalek i daleko izvan našeg grada, on se osjeća povezan s njim.

is both standard and required.