Ako se pojavi problem, riješit ćemo ga zajedno.

If a problem comes up, we will solve it together.

Breakdown of Ako se pojavi problem, riješit ćemo ga zajedno.

• zajedno: together
• htjeti: will
• ako: if
• problem: problem
• ga: it
• riješiti: to handle
• pojaviti se: to come up

Questions & Answers about Ako se pojavi problem, riješit ćemo ga zajedno.

Why does Croatian use ako + present tense (Ako se pojavi...) to talk about a future possibility, instead of a future tense?

In Croatian, after ako (if), you normally use the present tense to express a real/likely condition that can happen in the future. So Ako se pojavi problem literally looks like If a problem appears, but it functions as If a problem appears (in the future).
Using a future form in the if-clause is usually unnecessary and often sounds non-native.

What does se mean in Ako se pojavi problem? Is it reflexive?

Se is a clitic particle that often marks a reflexive verb, but here it’s more like an intransitive/“happens/appears” use.
Pojaviti se = to appear / to show up / to arise (something “appears” without explicitly saying who caused it).
So problem se pojavi is like a problem arises.

Why is it pojavi and not pojavljuje or pojavit će se?

• pojavi (se) is the present tense of the perfective verb pojaviti se. With perfective verbs, the present tense often refers to a single completed event in the future (especially in conditional clauses): if it appears (at some point).
• pojavljuje se is imperfective (pojavljivati se) and suggests repeated/ongoing appearance: if a problem is appearing/keeps appearing.
• pojavit će se is future and is generally not needed after ako in this type of sentence.

What case is problem in, and why?

Problem is in the nominative singular because it’s the subject of pojavi se (the thing that appears).
Croatian often uses nominative subjects even when English might phrase it differently (a problem arises).

Why is there a comma after problem?

Croatian normally uses a comma to separate a dependent clause from the main clause.
So: Ako se pojavi problem, (if-clause) + riješit ćemo ga zajedno. (main clause)

How is riješit ćemo formed, and what does it mean grammatically?

It’s the future tense (Futur I):

• riješit = short infinitive / infinitive stem of riješiti (to solve, perfective)
• ćemo = we will
  Together: riješit ćemo = we will solve.

Why is it written as two words (riješit ćemo) and not one?

Croatian writes the future tense as two words when it’s formed from an infinitive + clitic forms of htjeti (ću/ćeš/će/ćemo/ćete/će).
So: riješit ćemo, vidjet će, napravit ću, etc.

Can the word order be Riješit ćemo ga vs Riješit ćemo problem vs Riješit ćemo ga zajedno?

Yes, and it’s largely about emphasis and clitic placement:

• Riješit ćemo ga zajedno. = neutral, natural.
• Riješit ćemo problem zajedno. = uses the noun instead of the pronoun; slightly clearer, less “clitic-heavy.”
• Zajedno ćemo ga riješiti. = emphasizes together; also very common.
  Croatian word order is flexible, but clitics (se, ga, ćemo, etc.) must follow specific placement rules.

Why is the pronoun ga used, and what exactly does it refer to?

Ga is the accusative singular of on (he/it) and here it means it, referring back to problem (masculine in Croatian).
So riješit ćemo ga = we will solve it.

Where must ga go in the sentence? Can I say riješit ćemo zajedno ga?

Ga is a clitic, and clitics have a fixed position: they typically come in the second position of their clause (after the first “unit”) and appear in a set order with other clitics.
So riješit ćemo ga zajedno is correct.
riješit ćemo zajedno ga is not natural/usually considered wrong because the clitic ga shouldn’t be pushed that far right.

Why is it riješit ćemo (perfective) rather than rješavat ćemo (imperfective)?

Riješiti is perfective and focuses on achieving the result: solve it (successfully).
Rješavati is imperfective and focuses on the process: be solving / work on solving.
In this context (a single problem that comes up), perfective riješit ćemo is the standard choice.

What does zajedno mean grammatically here, and can it move around?

Zajedno is an adverb meaning together. It can move for emphasis:

• Riješit ćemo ga zajedno. (neutral)
• Zajedno ćemo ga riješiti. (emphasis on togetherness)
• Riješit ćemo ga, zajedno. (possible, but more like an added afterthought in speech/writing)

How do I pronounce riješit ćemo and what are the key spelling marks to notice?

Key points:

• rij is like rye
  • a quick y glide: roughly rye- in many accents.
• š is sh (as in ship).
• ć is a soft “ch/t” sound (different from č, which is harder).
  So riješit ćemo is approximately rye-SHEET CH(EH)-moh (very approximate), with š = sh and ć a soft consonant.