Sažetak je gotov, pa ću ga poslati e‑mailom.

Breakdown of Sažetak je gotov, pa ću ga poslati e‑mailom.

biti
to be
htjeti
will
pa
so
e-mail
email
poslati
to send
ga
it
sažetak
summary
gotov
done
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Questions & Answers about Sažetak je gotov, pa ću ga poslati e‑mailom.

Why is it Sažetak je gotov and not Sažetak je gotova/gotovo?

Because sažetak (summary/abstract) is a masculine noun in Croatian. The short adjective gotov (finished/ready) must agree with it in gender and number:

  • masculine singular: gotov
  • feminine singular: gotova
  • neuter singular: gotovo
  • plural: gotovi/gotove/gotova (depending on gender)

So with sažetakSažetak je gotov.

What does je do here? Could it be omitted?

Je is the present tense of biti (to be), 3rd person singular: he/she/it is. In this kind of sentence (X je gotov = X is finished), je is normally required.
You might see Sažetak gotov. only in very informal, note-like styles (headlines, messages), but the full, standard sentence uses je.

Why is there a comma before pa?

Because pa here functions like so/and so, linking two clauses:

  • Sažetak je gotov,
  • pa ću ga poslati e‑mailom.

In standard Croatian punctuation, you usually put a comma before pa when it introduces the next clause as a consequence/result.

What exactly does pa mean here—so, then, or and?

In this sentence pa is closest to so (as a result): The summary is finished, so I’ll send it by email.
Depending on context, pa can also be more like and then, but with this meaning (finished → therefore I’ll send it) so is the best match.

How does ću work, and why is it placed after pa?

Ću is the 1st person singular future auxiliary of htjeti (will). Croatian often forms the future as:

  • ću + infinitiveću poslati (I will send)

It’s a clitic (a “weak” word) and normally sits in the second position of its clause. After pa (which starts the clause), ću comes immediately:

  • pa ću

You could also say pa ću poslati sažetak e‑mailom, but the clitic ću still stays near the beginning.

Why is it poslati (infinitive) and not something like a conjugated “future” verb form?

Croatian future is commonly built with ću/ćeš/će… + infinitive, e.g.:

  • ja ću poslati = I will send
  • ti ćeš poslati = you will send
  • on/ona/ono će poslati = he/she/it will send

So poslati stays in the infinitive, and the future meaning comes from ću.

What is ga and why is it there?

Ga is the accusative form of the 3rd person masculine/neuter singular pronoun: him/it. Here it means it, referring back to sažetak.
Croatian often uses an object pronoun like this rather than repeating the noun:

  • poslati ga = send it

It’s also a clitic, so it typically appears early in the clause, often right after ću:

  • pa ću ga poslati
Why is the word order ću ga poslati and not poslat ću ga or poslat ću?

All of these can be possible, but they have different style/typicality:

  • pa ću ga poslati is very neutral and common.
  • poslat ću ga is also correct and natural (especially in speech). Here the infinitive is often shortened colloquially: poslati → poslat.
  • poslati ću ga is generally avoided in standard Croatian; clitics like ću prefer second position, not after the infinitive in this way.

So pa ću ga poslati is a safe, standard choice.

Why is it e‑mailom and not e‑mail?

E‑mailom is the instrumental case, used to express means/method: by (means of) email.
Many “by/with” expressions in Croatian use instrumental without a preposition:

  • poslati poštom = send by mail
  • poslati e‑mailom = send by email
  • poslati autobusom = go by bus (same “means” idea)

So e‑mailom answers “how/by what means?”

Is e‑mailom the only correct way, or could I say emailom or mejlom?

You’ll see several spellings:

  • e‑mailom: common and fairly formal/standard in writing
  • emailom: very common, less typographically strict
  • mejlom: informal/phonetic, common in casual speech/writing

All can be understood; for neutral writing, e‑mailom or emailom is safest.

Do I have to say ja (I) here?

No. Croatian usually omits subject pronouns because the verb (here ću) already shows the person.

  • (Ja) ću ga poslati both mean I will send it, but without ja is more natural unless you’re emphasizing I (contrast, stress, correction).
Is gotov more like “finished” or “ready”?

It can be either, depending on context. With documents and tasks, gotov often means finished (completed). It can also mean ready (prepared to be used/sent).
In this sentence, since the next action is sending it, both readings fit: it’s completed and therefore ready to send.

How would this change for other genders or plural objects?

The adjective and pronoun would change:

  • Feminine noun (e.g., poruka message):
    Poruka je gotova, pa ću je poslati e‑mailom. (je = her/it acc.)

  • Neuter noun (e.g., pismo letter):
    Pismo je gotovo, pa ću ga poslati e‑mailom. (neuter still uses ga in acc.)

  • Plural (e.g., dokumenti documents):
    Dokumenti su gotovi, pa ću ih poslati e‑mailom. (ih = them)