Breakdown of Teško odlučujem kad imam previše izbora, dok moja sestra odlučuje vrlo brzo.
imati
to have
moj
my
brzo
quickly
sestra
sister
kad
when
vrlo
very
previše
too many
teško
with difficulty
dok
whereas
odlučivati
to decide
izbor
choice
Questions & Answers about Teško odlučujem kad imam previše izbora, dok moja sestra odlučuje vrlo brzo.
Why is teško used here instead of an adjective like težak?
Because teško is an adverb, and it modifies the verb odlučujem. It means with difficulty / hard in this sentence. Croatian uses an adverb with a verb here, just like English says I decide with difficulty or I find it hard to decide.
Why are odlučujem and odlučuje in the present tense?
The present tense here expresses a general habit or usual behavior. The sentence is not about one single decision happening right now; it is describing how the speaker and the sister usually behave. That is why Croatian uses the present tense, just as English can say I have a hard time deciding and my sister decides very quickly.
Why is the verb odlučujem imperfective?
Croatian uses the imperfective verb for repeated, habitual, or ongoing kinds of actions. Here the idea is when I have too many choices, I tend to have difficulty deciding, so it is a repeated pattern. A perfective form such as odlučim would not sound natural for this general meaning.
Why are ja and ona not written?
Croatian often leaves subject pronouns out because the verb ending already shows the person.
- odlučujem = I decide
- odlučuje = he/she decides
So ja and ona are unnecessary unless you want extra emphasis or contrast.
What is the difference between kad and kada?
Both mean when. Kad is the shorter form and is very common in everyday Croatian. Kada is a bit fuller and can sound slightly more formal or deliberate, but in many sentences they are interchangeable.
Why is it previše izbora and not some other form of izbor?
After quantity words such as previše (too much / too many), Croatian normally uses the genitive. So izbora is used because the phrase means too many choices. This is a very common pattern:
- puno vremena = a lot of time
- malo novca = little money
- previše izbora = too many choices
Is izbora singular or plural here?
Here it is understood as genitive plural: choices. This can be confusing because for some nouns, the genitive singular and genitive plural look the same in form. In this sentence, the meaning of previše makes it clear that the idea is plural.
What does dok mean here?
Here dok means while or whereas in a contrastive sense. It is comparing the speaker with the sister: the speaker decides with difficulty, whereas the sister decides quickly. So this is not mainly about time; it is about contrast.
How is dok different from kad in this sentence?
Kad introduces the situation when I have too many choices. It gives the condition or circumstance.
Dok introduces the second clause and sets up a contrast with the first one.
So:
- kad = when
- dok = while / whereas
Why does the sentence say moja sestra? Could moja be omitted?
Yes, moja can sometimes be omitted if the context already makes it clear whose sister is meant. But moja sestra is completely natural here, especially because the sentence is contrasting me and my sister. Croatian often uses possessives a bit less than English, but in this sentence moja sestra sounds normal and clear.
Why is it vrlo brzo? Could I also say jako brzo or veoma brzo?
Yes, all of those are possible. Vrlo brzo is neutral and standard.
Other common options are:
- jako brzo
- veoma brzo
They all mean very quickly, though vrlo often sounds a bit more neutral in careful standard language.
Why is brzo used instead of brza?
Because brzo is an adverb, and it modifies the verb odlučuje. Brza would be an adjective modifying a feminine noun, for example brza sestra would mean a fast sister, which is not what the sentence is saying. The sentence is describing how she decides, not what kind of sister she is.
Could I also say Teško se odlučujem?
Yes, and many learners will hear that too. Teško se odlučujem often means I have a hard time making up my mind, which fits this context very well. The version without se is also possible, but the reflexive version can sound especially natural when talking about difficulty choosing between options.
Is the word order fixed in this sentence?
Not completely. Croatian word order is more flexible than English because the verb endings and case endings carry a lot of grammatical information. This sentence uses a very natural, neutral order, but other orders are possible if you want to change the emphasis.
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