Kad završim posao, svratit ću u mesnicu po meso za večeru.

When I finish work, I will stop by the butcher shop for meat for dinner.

Breakdown of Kad završim posao, svratit ću u mesnicu po meso za večeru.

• u: to
• večera: dinner
• posao: work
• kad: when

Questions & Answers about Kad završim posao, svratit ću u mesnicu po meso za večeru.

Why is završim used here instead of a future form like ću završiti?

Because after kad (when), Croatian often uses the present tense of a perfective verb to refer to a future completed action.

• završiti = perfective to finish
• završim = I finish / I will have finished in this kind of clause

So:

• Kad završim posao = When I finish work / Once I’ve finished work

This is very natural in Croatian. English usually uses a present form too in this kind of time clause: When I finish work..., not When I will finish work...

What exactly does kad mean here?

Kad means when.

In this sentence, it introduces a time clause:

• Kad završim posao = When I finish work

Depending on context, it can also feel like once:

• Once I finish work, I’ll stop by...

So here it marks the moment after which the next action will happen.

Why is it posao, and what case is it?