U vrtu je bila mala žaba kraj lokve.

to be

Breakdown of U vrtu je bila mala žaba kraj lokve.

• mali: small
• u: in
• vrt: garden

Questions & Answers about U vrtu je bila mala žaba kraj lokve.

Why is it u vrtu and not u vrt?

Because u can take different cases depending on meaning.

• u + accusative usually shows movement into something:
  
  • Idem u vrt. = I’m going into the garden.
• u + locative usually shows location in something:
  
  • U vrtu = in the garden

In U vrtu je bila mala žaba kraj lokve, the frog is already located there, so Croatian uses the locative: vrtu.

What case is vrtu?

Vrtu is locative singular of vrt (garden).

The noun vrt is masculine, and its locative singular form is vrtu.

So:

• nominative: vrt
• locative: u vrtu

Why does the sentence use je bila?