Questions & Answers about Boca vode je na balkonu.
Why is it vode and not voda?
Because in boca vode (a bottle of water), the second noun is typically in the genitive singular to show “quantity/content of something.”
- voda = nominative singular (water)
- vode = genitive singular (of water)
This is very common after measure/container nouns: čaša vode (a glass of water), litara vode (a liter of water), komad kruha (a piece of bread).
What case is boca in here, and why?
Boca is in the nominative singular because it’s the subject of the sentence: Boca vode je… = The bottle of water is…
The verb (je) agrees with this subject.
Why do we have je? Can it be omitted?
Je is the present tense of biti (to be) for he/she/it (= is).
In Croatian, je is often used, but in some contexts it can be omitted, especially in casual speech or headlines:
- Boca vode je na balkonu. (neutral/standard)
- Boca vode na balkonu. (more “telegraphic,” context-dependent) For learners, it’s safest to include je in full sentences.