Breakdown of U našem timu imamo povjerenje jedni u druge i pokazujemo poštovanje svaki dan.
Questions & Answers about U našem timu imamo povjerenje jedni u druge i pokazujemo poštovanje svaki dan.
Why is it u našem timu?
Because u here means in, referring to location, and with that meaning it takes the locative case.
- tim = team
- u timu = in the team
- u našem timu = in our team
So the ending -u on timu shows the locative singular.
Why does naš become našem?
Croatian words like naš (our) have to agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case.
Here:
- tim is masculine singular
- after u (meaning location), it is in the locative
- so naš changes to našem
That is why you get u našem timu.
Where is the word we in this sentence?
Croatian usually does not need a separate subject pronoun, because the verb ending already tells you who the subject is.
- imamo = we have
- pokazujemo = we show
So the sentence does not need mi (we), unless you want extra emphasis:
- Mi imamo... = We have... / As for us, we have...
Why does Croatian say imamo povjerenje instead of just using a verb meaning trust?
Croatian often expresses this idea with the noun povjerenje (trust, confidence) plus the verb imati (to have):
- imati povjerenje u nekoga = to have trust in someone
So imamo povjerenje jedni u druge means we trust each other.
There are other ways to express a similar idea, for example:
- Vjerujemo jedni drugima. = We believe/trust each other.
But imati povjerenje is a very natural and common structure.
How does jedni u druge mean each other?
This is a reciprocal expression, meaning the action goes both ways within a group.
The pattern is:
- jedni = one(s)
- drugi/druge/drugima... = other(s), changing form depending on case
So jedni u druge literally looks something like one into the others, but idiomatically it means in each other because it follows the pattern:
- imati povjerenje u nekoga = to have trust in someone
- therefore: imati povjerenje jedni u druge = to trust each other
It is not something you should translate word-for-word into natural English; it is just how Croatian builds the idea.
Why is it u druge and not jedni druge?
Because the noun povjerenje normally goes with the preposition u:
- povjerenje u nekoga/nešto = trust in someone/something
So the reciprocal phrase has to keep that preposition:
- jedni u druge
Without the preposition, jedni druge would fit different structures, for example:
- Volimo jedni druge. = We love each other.
So the choice depends on what the verb or noun requires.
Why is it druge and not drugima?
Because u here takes the accusative, due to the fixed pattern povjerenje u nekoga.
So:
- druge = accusative plural form here
- drugima = dative/instrumental plural form, so it would not fit this structure
You would use drugima with a different verb, for example:
- Vjerujemo jedni drugima. = We trust/believe each other.
That is a different grammatical pattern:
- vjerovati komu? = to believe/trust whom? → dative
Why is it jedni, which looks masculine?
In Croatian, the masculine plural is the default form for mixed groups or when the gender is not specified.
So in a sentence about a team, jedni is the normal general form.
If the group were entirely female, you could hear:
- jedne u druge
But in general descriptions, textbooks, and mixed-group situations, jedni is the expected form.
Why say pokazujemo poštovanje instead of simply poštujemo?
Both are possible, but they are not exactly the same in feel.
- poštujemo = we respect
- pokazujemo poštovanje = we show respect
The version in your sentence emphasizes the visible expression of respect, not just the internal attitude. It suggests behavior, manners, and daily actions.
So:
- Poštujemo jedni druge. = simpler, direct
- Pokazujemo poštovanje svaki dan. = more explicit about demonstrating respect
Why do povjerenje and poštovanje not change form here?
Both are neuter singular nouns, and in Croatian the nominative and accusative forms are often identical for neuter singular nouns.
Here they are direct objects:
- imamo povjerenje → povjerenje is accusative
- pokazujemo poštovanje → poštovanje is accusative
But they look the same as the dictionary form, so there is no visible ending change.
Why is it svaki dan and not svakog dana?
Both are possible and both can mean every day.
- svaki dan = very common, straightforward
- svakog dana = also common, slightly more idiomatic in some contexts
In this sentence, svaki dan is perfectly natural and easy to understand.
So:
- pokazujemo poštovanje svaki dan
- pokazujemo poštovanje svakog dana
Both work.
Is the word order fixed?
Not completely. Croatian word order is fairly flexible, but some orders sound more natural than others.
Putting U našem timu first gives the sentence a clear setting or topic:
- U našem timu imamo povjerenje jedni u druge...
This is like saying In our team, ...
You could rearrange parts of the sentence, but the original order sounds natural and smooth. Croatian often places the context or setting near the beginning.
Why is there no word for the?
Because Croatian does not have articles like a or the.
So u našem timu naturally means in our team, without any separate word for the.
Croatian shows definiteness through:
- context
- possessives like naš (our)
- demonstratives when needed, like taj (that)
So English needs the in many places where Croatian uses nothing at all.
More from this lesson
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning CroatianMaster Croatian — from U našem timu imamo povjerenje jedni u druge i pokazujemo poštovanje svaki dan to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions