Ostatní čekají u stolu.

to wait

Breakdown of Ostatní čekají u stolu.

• u: at
• stůl: the table
• ostatní: the others; the remaining ones

Questions & Answers about Ostatní čekají u stolu.

What does ostatní mean here?

Here ostatní means the others or the rest.

It is originally an adjective meaning other / remaining, but in this sentence it is being used on its own, like a noun. Czech does this quite often when the noun is understood from context.

So Ostatní čekají... = The others are waiting...

Why is there no separate word for are?

Because Czech usually puts that information inside the verb form itself.

Čekají already means they wait or they are waiting, so Czech does not need a separate present-tense verb like English are in this sentence.

• čekám = I wait / am waiting
• čekáš = you wait / are waiting
• čekají = they wait / are waiting

What form is čekají?

Čekají is the 3rd person plural present tense of čekat, meaning to wait.

So it agrees with the plural subject ostatní.

• dictionary form: čekat
• present tense, 3rd person plural: čekají

In English, this can mean either:

• they wait
• they are waiting

The exact choice depends on context.

Does čekají mean wait or are waiting?