Breakdown of Ovaj zadatak je takav da ga mogu riješiti tek kad se dobro koncentriram.
Questions & Answers about Ovaj zadatak je takav da ga mogu riješiti tek kad se dobro koncentriram.
Because zadatak is a masculine noun, and the demonstrative ovaj must agree with it in gender, number, and case.
- masculine singular nominative: ovaj zadatak = this task
(Ovo is used for neuter nouns in nominative/accusative singular, e.g. ovo pitanje = this question.)
Takav da... is a common Croatian pattern meaning (so) such that... / of such a kind that....
It introduces a result/characteristic clause:
- Ovaj zadatak je takav da... = This task is such that...
After da, you get a normal finite clause (with a verb), not an infinitive.
Yes—here da functions like English that, introducing a subordinate clause:
- takav da ga mogu riješiti... = such that I can solve it...
Croatian uses da + finite verb in many places where English might use an infinitive or a different construction.
Ga is the unstressed object pronoun meaning him/it (accusative masculine/neuter singular). Here it refers to zadatak (masculine), so ga = it.
Croatian clitic pronouns (like ga, je, se, mi) usually come in the second position of the clause (the “clitic slot”), which often puts them before the verb:
- da ga mogu riješiti (natural) You can also sometimes see different word order for emphasis, but this is the standard neutral placement.
With modal verbs like moći (can), Croatian normally uses modal + infinitive:
- mogu riješiti = I can solve
A da + present alternative exists in some contexts/dialects and with some verbs, but with moći the infinitive is the most typical standard choice.
This is an aspect difference:
- riješiti = perfective → to solve/resolve successfully as a completed whole
- rješavati = imperfective → to be solving / to work on solving as a process or repeatedly
In this sentence, riješiti fits because the idea is being able to solve it (finish it) once you concentrate well.
Tek means only / not until / only then. Here it sets a limit: you can solve it only when a condition is met.
Common placements:
- ... mogu riješiti tek kad... (very natural)
- ... tek mogu riješiti kad... (possible, slightly different emphasis) It often sits right before the element it limits (here: the time clause).
Kad and kada both mean when.
- kad is more common in everyday usage and in many standard sentences
- kada is a bit more explicit/formal or used for clarity/emphasis
In this sentence, either would work: tek kad... / tek kada....
Koncentrirati se is a reflexive verb in Croatian: you literally say to concentrate oneself.
So se is required:
- koncentriram se = I concentrate / I focus
Without se, it would sound wrong or change meaning.
Yes, dobro modifies the verb phrase and means well / properly / sufficiently:
- dobro koncentriram (with se understood as part of the verb) = concentrate well
You can swap it for other adverbs depending on meaning: - jako se koncentriram = I concentrate a lot/intensely
- potpuno se koncentriram = I concentrate completely
- dovoljno se koncentriram = I concentrate enough
Croatian is a pro-drop language: the verb ending shows the person, so the subject pronoun is often omitted.
- mogu = I can (1st person singular)
- koncentriram = I concentrate (1st person singular)
You can add ja for emphasis/contrast: - ... da ga ja mogu riješiti... = that I (specifically) can solve it...