Ključeve obično nalazim u torbi, ali danas ih ne nalazim nigdje.

Because ključeve is the accusative plural, and the keys are the direct object of nalazim.

• ključevi = nominative plural, used for the subject
• ključeve = accusative plural, used for the object

So:

• Ključevi su u torbi = The keys are in the bag
• Nalazim ključeve = I find the keys

In this sentence, the speaker is finding the keys, so accusative is needed.

Croatian does not have articles like the or a.

So ključeve can mean:

• the keys
• my keys
• sometimes just keys

The exact meaning comes from context. In this sentence, it most naturally means the keys or my keys.

If the speaker wanted to say my keys explicitly, they could say:

• Moje ključeve obično nalazim u torbi...

Obično means usually.

Croatian word order is more flexible than English, because case endings show what each word is doing. Here, ključeve is placed first to make the keys the topic of the sentence, and obično comes before the verb.

So:

• Ključeve obično nalazim u torbi = As for the keys, I usually find them in the bag

A more neutral order would also be possible:

• Obično nalazim ključeve u torbi

Both are correct, but the original version gives a little more focus to ključeve.

Because u can take different cases depending on the meaning.

• u + locative = location, in
• u + accusative = movement, into

Here the meaning is location:

• u torbi = in the bag

Compare:

• Ključevi su u torbi = The keys are in the bag
• Stavljam ključeve u torbu = I am putting the keys into the bag

So torbi is the locative singular of torba.

Ih means them.

It refers back to ključeve in the first clause, so the speaker does not have to repeat the noun.

• ...ali danas ih ne nalazim nigdje = ...but today I can’t find them anywhere

So the structure is:

• first clause: the full noun ključeve
• second clause: the pronoun ih

This is very natural in Croatian, just as English uses them instead of repeating the keys.

Because ih is a clitic: a short, unstressed pronoun that usually goes near the beginning of the clause, often in second position.

In the second clause:

• ali danas ih ne nalazim nigdje

the first important word is danas, so the clitic ih comes right after it.

That is why you get:

• danas ih ne nalazim

and not normally:

• danas ne nalazim ih

This clitic placement is one of the things English speakers often need time to get used to in Croatian.

Nalazim is the 1st person singular present tense of nalaziti.

So it means:

• I find
• I am finding, depending on context

The ending -m shows that the subject is I, which is why Croatian does not need the pronoun ja here.

Because the same verb works for both a habitual meaning and a current situation, depending on the context.

• obično makes it habitual: I usually find
• danas makes it about today: today I’m not finding / can’t find

So:

• Ključeve obično nalazim u torbi = I usually find the keys in the bag
• ali danas ih ne nalazim nigdje = but today I can’t find them anywhere

Croatian often uses the present tense this way, while English may switch to a more natural translation such as can’t find.

Because ne nalazim can naturally mean I’m not finding them or I can’t find them, depending on context.

English often prefers can’t find in this situation, but Croatian does not always need a separate verb like can.

If you want to say it more explicitly, you could also say:

• danas ih ne mogu naći nigdje = today I can’t find them anywhere

So the original sentence is normal Croatian, even though the most natural English translation includes can’t.

Yes, it is a kind of double negative, but in Croatian that is completely normal and required.

Croatian uses negative concord, which means the verb is negative and the negative word also appears:

• ne nalazim nigdje = I don’t find them anywhere / I can’t find them anywhere

You cannot normally make it positive with a word like anywhere in Croatian the way English does. Croatian prefers:

• ne ... nigdje

Similar patterns are:

• ne vidim nikoga = I don’t see anyone
• nemam ništa = I don’t have anything

So this is standard grammar, not a mistake.

Because Croatian usually drops subject pronouns when they are already clear from the verb ending.

• nalazim already means I find
• the -m ending tells you the subject is I

So ja is unnecessary unless you want emphasis or contrast.

For example:

• Ja ih ne nalazim, ali ti ih nalaziš = I’m not finding them, but you are

In the original sentence, no emphasis is needed, so leaving out ja is the most natural choice.