Log inSign up

Mrvice su opet na tepihu, pa ih pokupim prije nego mačka dođe.

Mrvice su opet na tepihu, pa ih pokupim prije nego mačka dođe.
There are crumbs on the carpet again, so I pick them up before the cat comes.

Breakdown of Mrvice su opet na tepihu, pa ih pokupim prije nego mačka dođe.

biti
to be
mačka
cat
na
on
doći
to come
pa
so
opet
again
ih
them
tepih
carpet
prije nego
before
pokupiti
to pick up
mrvica
crumb
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Croatian grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Croatian now

Questions & Answers about Mrvice su opet na tepihu, pa ih pokupim prije nego mačka dođe.

What does mrvice mean grammatically, and why is it plural?

Mrvice is the plural nominative form of mrvica (a crumb). Croatian commonly uses the plural for things like crumbs, drops, bits, etc., because you typically have more than one.
It’s the subject of the sentence, so it’s in the nominative case.

Why is it Mrvice su… and not Mrvice jesu…?

Both are forms of to be in the present tense, but:

  • su is the normal unstressed form used in neutral statements: Mrvice su opet na tepihu.
  • jesu is used for emphasis/contrast (like “they are, actually”): Mrvice jesu na tepihu (not on the table).

So su fits a simple, matter-of-fact observation.

Why does tepih become tepihu in na tepihu?

Because na can take different cases depending on meaning:

  • na + locative = location (on / at): na tepihu = “on the carpet”
  • na + accusative = movement onto: na tepih = “onto the carpet”

Here it’s describing where the crumbs are (location), so it uses locative: tepih → tepihu.

What role does opet play, and can it go elsewhere?

Opet means again. It’s an adverb modifying the whole idea “are on the carpet again.”
It’s flexible in placement, for example:

  • Mrvice su opet na tepihu. (most natural)
  • Mrvice su na tepihu opet. (possible, slightly different emphasis)
What does pa mean here?

Pa is a very common connector meaning something like:

  • so
  • and (then)
  • therefore

Here it links the situation to a consequence:
Mrvice su opet na tepihu, pa… = “The crumbs are on the carpet again, so…”

Why is ih used, and what does it refer to?

Ih means them (3rd person plural accusative clitic). It refers back to mrvice (crumbs).
Crucially, Croatian often uses a pronoun even when English might repeat the noun: “so I pick them up…”

Why does ih come before pokupim?

Because ih is a clitic (an unstressed pronoun), and clitics usually appear in a fixed early position in the clause—typically before the verb:

  • pa ih pokupim = “so I pick them up”

Putting it after the verb (pa pokupim ih) is generally less natural and often restricted by style/structure.

Why is pokupim in the present tense if the meaning is about what I’m going to do?

Croatian present tense can express near-future or habitual actions, especially in context:

  • “Crumbs are there again, so I pick them up (now / as a rule).”

Also, pokupim is from the perfective verb pokupiti, which often sounds like a single completed action (“I’ll pick them up / I pick them up (and it gets done)”).

What’s the difference between pokupim and pokupljam?

It’s mainly aspect:

  • pokupim (perfective) = pick up successfully / as a complete action (one-time, result-focused)
  • pokupljam (imperfective) = am picking up / pick up (process, repeated/habitual)

In this sentence, pokupim fits well because it implies you’ll quickly remove the crumbs before something happens.

Why is it prije nego mačka dođe and not something like “before the cat will come”?

Croatian normally does not use a future tense after “before.” It uses a present-form verb in the subordinate clause:

  • prije nego mačka dođe = “before the cat comes”

Even though it refers to the future, Croatian expresses it with present forms (often with a perfective verb for a single arrival).

Why is it dođe and not dolazi?

Again, aspect:

  • dođe (perfective, from doći) = “arrives / comes (as a completed event)”
  • dolazi (imperfective, from dolaziti) = “is coming / comes (regularly or in progress)”

With prije nego, dođe strongly suggests “before the cat arrives (even once).”
Prije nego mačka dolazi would usually feel odd here unless you mean a repeated schedule (“before the cat comes around (habitually)”), and even then you’d likely rephrase.

Why is there a comma before pa?

Because pa is connecting two clauses: 1) Mrvice su opet na tepihu
2) (pa) ih pokupim prije nego mačka dođe

In standard writing, a comma is commonly used before pa when it introduces a new clause with a consequence or continuation.