Log inSign up

Rok važenja provjerim prije nego što predam zahtjev, za svaki slučaj.

Rok važenja provjerim prije nego što predam zahtjev, za svaki slučaj.
I check the validity period before I submit the request, just in case.

Breakdown of Rok važenja provjerim prije nego što predam zahtjev, za svaki slučaj.

ja
I
provjeriti
to check
prije nego što
before
za svaki slučaj
just in case
zahtjev
request
rok važenja
validity period
predati
to submit
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Croatian grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Croatian now

Questions & Answers about Rok važenja provjerim prije nego što predam zahtjev, za svaki slučaj.

What does rok važenja literally mean, and why is it in that form?

Rok važenja literally means the period/expiry date of validity (i.e., valid-until / expiration date).

  • rok = deadline / term / period (masculine noun)
  • važenja = of being valid (a verbal noun from važiti, in the genitive singular)
    So the structure is Noun + Genitive: rok (čega?) važenja = period of validity / expiry date.
Why is there no word for my (as in “I check my expiry date”)?

Croatian usually doesn’t require possessives if ownership is obvious from context. Saying Rok važenja provjerim... is natural and doesn’t sound incomplete. If you wanted to be explicit, you could say e.g. Rok važenja (dokumenta / osobne / putovnice) provjerim... = I check the validity/expiry date (of the document / ID card / passport)...

Why is provjerim used instead of provjeravam? What’s the difference?

This is an aspect choice:

  • provjerim is typically perfective: I check (and finish checking) / I do a check (a completed single action).
  • provjeravam is imperfective: I am checking / I check (habitually or repeatedly).

In this sentence, provjerim suggests a one-time, completed check before you submit something. If you meant a routine habit, provjeravam could also work depending on context.

Is this sentence in the present tense even though it sounds like the future?

Yes—Croatian often uses the present tense to talk about regular actions or planned actions in a typical situation.
Rok važenja provjerim prije nego što predam zahtjev... can mean:

  • I check the expiry date before I submit the application (whenever I do this). It can also be understood as a near-future plan in context, but it’s phrased like a general rule.
How does prije nego što work? Why both nego and što?

prije nego što is a fixed conjunction meaning before (literally: before than that).
It introduces a subordinate clause, and it’s extremely common in Croatian:

  • prije nego što + verb = before (someone) does (something)

You’ll also see a shorter version prije nego (especially in speech), but prije nego što is very standard.

Why is it predam zahtjev and not predajem zahtjev?

Same aspect idea as with provjerim:

  • predam (perfective) = I submit / I hand in (successfully, completed)
  • predajem (imperfective) = I am submitting / I submit (as an ongoing process or repeatedly)

Here, predam fits because submitting an application is typically a single completed act.

What case is zahtjev, and why?

zahtjev is in the accusative singular, and it’s identical in form to the nominative because it’s an inanimate masculine noun.
The verb predati (to submit/hand in) takes a direct object, so you use the accusative:

  • predam (što?) zahtjev = I submit (what?) an application/request
What does za svaki slučaj mean, and can it go elsewhere in the sentence?

za svaki slučaj means just in case / to be safe / for good measure.
It’s an idiomatic phrase, and it’s very flexible in position:

  • ... za svaki slučaj. (common at the end)
  • Za svaki slučaj, rok važenja provjerim... (also fine)
Why is there a comma before za svaki slučaj?

The comma separates the main message from a parenthetical afterthought (just in case), which functions like an aside.
Also, the clause introduced by prije nego što is a subordinate clause, and commas are commonly used around clause boundaries in Croatian.

What’s the subject of the sentence? It isn’t written anywhere.

The subject is I (ja), but Croatian usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the person:

  • provjerim = (I) check
  • predam = (I) submit

You could add ja for emphasis (Ja rok važenja provjerim...), but it’s normally omitted.

Could I swap the word order: Provjerim rok važenja...? Is one more natural?

Yes, word order is quite flexible. Both are correct:

  • Rok važenja provjerim... puts slight emphasis on the expiry date (topic-first).
  • Provjerim rok važenja... is often the more neutral verb-first flow.

Which is “more natural” depends on what you’re emphasizing and what came before in the conversation.