Learn Hardcore Croatian: Večeras ona pravi društvo baki u parku. - Tonight she is keeping grandmother company in the park.

So "ona pravi društvo baki" = "she is keeping grandma company", not "she is making a society for grandma". It’s a very common everyday expression.

Why is it "baki" and not "baku"?

Croatian uses cases, and the noun "baka" (grandma) changes its ending depending on its role in the sentence.

baki = dative singular → “to grandma / for grandma”
baku = accusative singular → “grandma” as a direct object

The expression "praviti (nekome) društvo" always takes the dative:

praviti društvo baki = “to keep grandma company” (literally “to make company to grandma”)

How do we know "baki" means "to grandma" when there is no word “to” in the sentence?

In Croatian, the idea of “to” is usually expressed by the dative case, not by a separate word.

Here, "baki" is the dative form of "baka", so it already includes the meaning “to grandma”. English needs a preposition; Croatian mostly uses endings instead.

Why is it "u parku" and not "u park"?

With "u", Croatian distinguishes:

u + locative → static location (where?)
- u parku = in the park (location)
u + accusative → movement into (where to?)
- u park = into the park (direction)

In "Večeras ona pravi društvo baki u parku", the action takes place in the park, not moving into it, so locative is used: "u parku".

Could we say "na parku" instead of "u parku"?

No, "na parku" is not idiomatic in standard Croatian.

For parks, people say "u parku" = in the park.
"na" is used with some other places:

na trgu – in the square
na autobusnoj stanici – at the bus stop
na plaži – on the beach

So the natural phrase is "u parku".

Can "ona" be left out? Do we have to say "Ona pravi društvo..."?

You can leave it out. Croatian is a pro‑drop language: subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending already shows the person.

Večeras pravi društvo baki u parku. – perfectly correct and very natural.
Adding "ona" (Večeras ona pravi društvo…) adds a bit of emphasis or contrast (e.g. “Tonight she is keeping grandma company (not someone else).”)

Is the present tense "pravi" more like “she makes” or “she is making / is keeping”?

Croatian has only one present tense form, and context decides whether English should use simple or progressive:

Ona pravi društvo baki.
- could be translated as:
  - She keeps grandma company. (general habit)
  - She is keeping grandma company. (right now / tonight)

In your sentence with "večeras" (tonight), the natural English is “Tonight she is keeping grandma company…”

Where else can "večeras" go in the sentence, and does the word order change the meaning?

All of these are grammatically correct, with slightly different emphasis:

Večeras ona pravi društvo baki u parku. (focus on tonight)
Ona večeras pravi društvo baki u parku. (neutral, common)
Ona pravi večeras društvo baki u parku. (slightly marked, emphasis on this evening among other times)

The basic meaning doesn’t change; word order mostly affects which part you emphasize or what sounds most natural in context.

What is the difference between "večeras", "večer", and "noćas"?

večeras – adverb: “this evening / tonight”
- Večeras idem u kino. – I’m going to the cinema tonight.
večer – noun: “evening”
- Ova večer je lijepa. – This evening is beautiful.
noćas – “tonight, during the night”, often a bit later than “večeras” and more connected with night‑time.
- Noćas nisam spavao. – I didn’t sleep last night / tonight.

In your sentence, "večeras" is best, because a park visit suggests evening, not the middle of the night.

How would I say “her grandma” or “my grandma” more explicitly here?

Options:

Večeras ona pravi društvo svojoj baki u parku.
- svojoj baki = her own grandma (refers back to the subject “ona”)
Večeras ona pravi društvo svojoj baki u parku. is often clearer if there are several grandmas in the context.
Večeras ona pravi društvo mojoj baki u parku. – my grandma

In everyday speech, just "baki" usually implies her/our grandma, unless context says otherwise.

What case is "baki" exactly, and how does "baka" decline?

"Baki" is dative singular of "baka" (a regular feminine noun). Basic singular forms:

Nominative: baka – grandma (subject)
Genitive: bake – of (a/the) grandma
Dative: baki – to / for grandma
Accusative: baku – grandma (direct object)
Locative: baki – (about) grandma / at grandma’s
Instrumental: bakom – with grandma

So in "praviti društvo baki", baki is dative: “to grandma”.

Can I use a different verb instead of "praviti društvo" to say “keep company”?

Yes, there are alternatives, though "praviti društvo" is the most common set phrase:

Večeras se ona druži s bakom u parku.
- Tonight she is hanging out / spending time with grandma in the park.
Večeras ona je baki društvo u parku. (less common, a bit stylistic)
- literally “she is company to grandma”

You wouldn’t normally say "raditi društvo"; "činiti društvo" exists but sounds more formal or old‑fashioned than "praviti društvo".