Breakdown of S instrumentalom je lakše kad vježbam s učiteljicom, ali mi je vokativ i dalje čudan.
biti
to be
ali
but
mi
me (dative short form)
s
with
Questions & Answers about S instrumentalom je lakše kad vježbam s učiteljicom, ali mi je vokativ i dalje čudan.
Why is it s instrumentalom, not just instrumental?
Because the preposition s means with, and it requires the instrumental case.
So even when you are talking about the name of a case, that noun still has to decline normally:
- instrumental = nominative
- s instrumentalom = instrumental after s
So S instrumentalom je lakše literally has the structure With the instrumental, it is easier.
Why is s used twice in the sentence?
Both uses are the same preposition: s = with.
- S instrumentalom je lakše = with the instrumental, it’s easier
- vježbam s učiteljicom = I practice with the teacher
In both places, s triggers the instrumental case:
- instrumental → instrumentalom
- učiteljica → učiteljicom
So this sentence is actually a nice example of how the instrumental works in two different contexts: one abstract, one personal.
Why does učiteljica become učiteljicom?