Learn Hardcore Croatian: Na zidu dvorane visi tablica s rasporedom utakmica, koja stvara uzbudljivu atmosferu prije turnira. - On the wall of the hall hangs a table with the schedule of matches, which creates an exciting atmosphere before the tournament.

zidu – locative singular of zid (wall)
- base form: zid (NOM sg)
- locative: zidu → used after na when it means “on” in a static sense (location, not movement).
dvorane – genitive singular of dvorana (hall)
- base form: dvorana (NOM sg)
- genitive: dvorane → expresses possession/“of the hall”.

So the pattern is:

na + LOC → na zidu = on the wall
[noun] + GEN → zid dvorane = wall of the hall (possessive relationship).

Together: na (LOC) + zid (LOC) + dvorana (GEN) = on the wall of the hall.

You could also say:

na zidu u dvorani = on the wall in the hall
Here u dvorani (in the hall, locative) describes the location, not possession.
zid dvorane sounds more like the hall’s own wall (belonging to the hall).

Can I change the word order to Tablica s rasporedom utakmica visi na zidu dvorane? Does it sound natural?

Yes, that word order is completely natural:

Tablica s rasporedom utakmica visi na zidu dvorane.

In Croatian, word order is flexible because case endings show grammatical roles. Both orders are fine:

Na zidu dvorane visi tablica s rasporedom utakmica…
– Slightly emphasizes the location first: On the wall of the hall there hangs a board…
Tablica s rasporedom utakmica visi na zidu dvorane…
– Slightly emphasizes the board first: The board with the schedule hangs on the wall of the hall…

Both are good standard Croatian; the difference is nuance/emphasis, not grammar.

What exactly does tablica mean here? Is it the same as ploča or tabla?

Tablica is a bit flexible in meaning, depending on context:

Literally: a small board, plate, panel, table (in a data sense).
In tablica s rasporedom utakmica, it suggests some kind of board or sheet showing the schedule (like a printed table/form, poster board).

Comparisons:

ploča – a board, plate, flat surface (blackboard, sign, plaque, record, etc.)
tabla – often a school blackboard/whiteboard; also can mean a sign/board in some dialects or informal speech.
tablica – often “table” in a document (like a table of results), small information board, information sheet.

In a sports-hall context:

tablica s rasporedom utakmica evokes a printed table of fixtures posted on the wall.
ploča s rasporedom utakmica would sound like a physical board, maybe a whiteboard or wooden/plastic board.

All can be understood, but tablica nicely matches the idea of a table-layout schedule.

Why is it s rasporedom utakmica and not sa rasporedom utakmica?

Both s rasporedom utakmica and sa rasporedom utakmica are grammatically possible. The rule:

The basic form is s (with).
sa is used instead of s:
- before words starting with s, z, š, ž (for easier pronunciation), and
- sometimes before clusters that are awkward to say after s.

Examples:

s mamom, but sa sestrom (not s sestrom – harder to pronounce).
s zidom, but often sa ženom.

Here, rasporedom starts with r, which is easy after s, so:

s rasporedom is the normal, neutral choice.
sa rasporedom would sound a bit unusual or overly careful here, though still understandable.

What case is rasporedom in s rasporedom utakmica, and why?

Rasporedom is in the instrumental singular:

base form (NOM sg): raspored – schedule
instrumental sg: rasporedom

The preposition s (with) normally takes the instrumental case to express accompaniment or content:

s prijateljem – with a friend
s olovkom – with a pencil
s rasporedom – with a schedule

So s rasporedom utakmica literally means “with the schedule of matches”.

What form is utakmica in rasporedom utakmica? How do I know it’s plural?

Utakmica in this phrase is genitive plural:

base form (NOM sg): utakmica – a match, a game
genitive sg: utakmice
genitive pl: utakmica (same as nominative sg in spelling, different in function)

In rasporedom utakmica:

rasporedom – instrumental sg: by/with the schedule
utakmica – genitive plural: of (the) matches

You know it’s plural because:

Semantically, a schedule usually involves more than one match.
The pattern [something] + GEN often marks “of X”:
- raspored utakmica = schedule of matches (GEN pl)
- raspored utakmice = schedule of one match (GEN sg; less natural)

So utakmica here = of matches (GEN pl), not a match (NOM sg).

What does the relative pronoun koja refer to, and why is it feminine singular?

Koja is a relative pronoun meaning which/that, and it refers back to tablica.

Agreement rules for koji/koja/koje:

It must match the noun it refers to in gender, number, and case.

Here:

Antecedent: tablica – feminine singular, nominative
So:
- gender: feminine → koja
- number: singular → koja
- case: nominative (it’s the subject of stvara) → koja

So:

tablica, koja stvara uzbudljivu atmosferu…
= the board, which creates an exciting atmosphere…

If it referred to a masculine noun in nominative singular, you’d use koji; for neuter, koje:

zid, koji stvara… – the wall, which creates… (masc.)
svjetlo, koje stvara… – the light, which creates… (neut.)

Why is there a comma before koja stvara uzbudljivu atmosferu? Could you leave it out?

The comma before koja marks a non‑defining (non‑restrictive) relative clause, adding extra information.

With the comma:
Na zidu dvorane visi tablica s rasporedom utakmica, koja stvara uzbudljivu atmosferu…
Meaning: On the wall of the hall there hangs a board with the schedule of matches, which (as a side fact) creates an exciting atmosphere…
→ Assumes there is one such board; the comment about atmosphere is additional information.
Without the comma:
…tablica s rasporedom utakmica koja stvara uzbudljivu atmosferu…
Would be read more as a defining clause: the board with the schedule of matches that creates an exciting atmosphere…
→ Suggests there might be multiple boards/schedules, and you are specifying which one.

In standard Croatian punctuation:

Non‑defining relative clause → usually separated by a comma.
Defining relative clause → usually no comma.

So the comma is correct here and signals the intended nuance: the whole board (as already identified) happens to create an exciting atmosphere.

Why is stvara used and not something like se stvara or je stvorena?

Different forms express different voices and aspects:

stvara – 3rd person singular, present, active
- verb: stvarati (imperfective) – to create, to be creating
- koja stvara uzbudljivu atmosferu = which creates an exciting atmosphere
  → The subject (tablica) is actively causing the atmosphere.
se stvara – reflexive / passive-like construction
- stvara se uzbudljiva atmosfera = an exciting atmosphere is created / is forming
  → No explicit “creator”; it “creates itself” or “is being created”.
je stvorena – past passive
- uzbudljiva atmosfera je stvorena = an exciting atmosphere has been created
  → Focus on the result, not the ongoing action.

In the original sentence, we want to assign the action directly to the board, so the active stvara is the most natural.

Why is it uzbudljivu atmosferu, not uzbudljiva atmosfera?

Uzbudljivu atmosferu is in the accusative singular feminine, because it is the direct object of stvara:

verb: stvara – (it) creates
what? → uzbudljivu atmosferu – an exciting atmosphere (direct object)

Agreement:

atmosfera – feminine noun
- NOM sg: uzbudljiva atmosfera – exciting atmosphere (as subject)
- ACC sg: uzbudljivu atmosferu – exciting atmosphere (as object)

So:

Subject: Tablica… koja stvara (NOM)
Object: uzbudljivu atmosferu (ACC)

If you said uzbudljiva atmosfera, that would be nominative and sound like a new subject, not the thing being created.

Why is turnira in the genitive in prije turnira? Could I say prije turnir?

Prije (before) is a preposition that always takes the genitive case.

Base noun: turnir – tournament
Genitive sg: turnira

So:

prije turnira = before the tournament (GEN)
*prije turnir – incorrect; the noun must be in genitive after prije.

Other examples with prije + GEN:

prije škole – before school
prije utakmice – before the match
prije ručka – before lunch

You could express a similar meaning with another preposition:

pred turnirom – before the tournament (in time, but also somewhat “in the face of / in front of” figuratively).
Both are correct, but prije turnira is the straightforward temporal “before the tournament”.

How do I know when Croatian means “a board” vs “the board” if there are no articles in tablica s rasporedom utakmica?

Croatian has no articles (a/an, the). Definiteness (whether it means a or the) is understood from:

Context
- If it’s mentioned for the first time: often translated as a board.
- If it’s clearly unique in the situation (e.g. the only schedule board in the hall): you naturally say the board in English.
Previous mention
- First mention: Na zidu dvorane visi tablica… → On the wall… there is a board…
- Later: Ta tablica stvara uzbudljivu atmosferu. → That/The board creates an exciting atmosphere.
Demonstratives if needed
- ta tablica – that/the board
- ova tablica – this board
- ona tablica – that board over there

In your sentence, English would most naturally render tablica s rasporedom utakmica as “a board with the schedule of matches” or “the schedule board”, depending on the wider context.

Is dvorana the same as sala? Which is more natural in this sentence?

Both dvorana and sala can mean something like hall/room, but there are nuances:

dvorana
- Often used for larger halls, especially for sports, concerts, events.
- sportska dvorana – sports hall / gym hall
- koncertna dvorana – concert hall
sala
- Often used for rooms/halls in buildings like restaurants, hospitals, universities:
  - predavaonica / sala – lecture hall
  - sala za vjenčanja – wedding hall
  - operacijska sala – operating theatre

In a context with utakmica (matches) and turnir (tournament), dvorana sounds more natural, because it suggests a sports hall. So:

Na zidu dvorane… fits very well: On the wall of the sports hall…
Na zidu sale… would be understandable but less idiomatic here.

What verb is visi, and how is it conjugated?

Visi is the 3rd person singular, present tense of the verb visjeti – to hang (intransitive).

Infinitive: visjeti – to hang
Present tense:
- ja visim – I hang / am hanging
- ti visiš – you hang
- on/ona/ono visi – he/she/it hangs
- mi visimo – we hang
- vi visite – you (pl/formal) hang
- oni/one/ona vise – they hang

So tablica… visi = the board hangs / is hanging.

If you wanted a more “result-focused” passive, you might say:

Tablica je obješena na zid. – The board is hung on the wall.

But visi describes the current state (it is hanging there) in a simple way.