Tento typ je nový.

Breakdown of Tento typ je nový.

být
to be
nový
new
tento
this
typ
the type

Questions & Answers about Tento typ je nový.

Why is it tento typ and not just ten typ?

Both are possible, but they are slightly different in tone.

Tento means this and is the standard written/formal demonstrative. Ten very often means that, but in everyday Czech it can also sometimes function like the or refer to something already known from context.

So tento typ je nový is a clear, textbook-like way to say this type is new.

What case is tento typ in?

It is in the nominative case, because it is the subject of the sentence.

  • tento = nominative masculine singular
  • typ = nominative masculine singular

In a basic sentence of the type X is Y, the subject is normally in the nominative.

Why does nový end in -ý?

Because nový has to agree with typ.

The noun typ is:

So the adjective must match those features, which gives nový.

Compare:

  • nový typ = a new type
  • nová kniha = a new book
  • nové auto = a new car
Why is there je in the sentence? Can Czech leave out is?

Here, je means is, and it is necessary.

Czech often omits subject pronouns like he, she, or I, but it does not normally omit the verb to be in this kind of present-tense sentence.

So:

Is typ masculine even though it does not refer to a male person?

Yes. In Czech, grammatical gender is not the same thing as biological sex.

Typ is a masculine inanimate noun. That is why it takes forms like:

Many non-living things in Czech are grammatically masculine, feminine, or neuter.

Why is there no word for the or a?

Czech has no articles.

English uses a/an and the, but Czech usually leaves that information to context.

So Tento typ je nový does not need any article at all. The demonstrative tento already makes it specific: this type.

Could the word order be different?

Yes. Czech word order is more flexible than English word order, because the grammar is shown by endings, not just by position.

The neutral order here is:

But other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

  • Nový je tento typ. = It is this type that is new.
  • Je nový tento typ? = Is this type new?

So word order can change nuance, even when the basic meaning stays similar.

What is the difference between nový and nová or nové?

They are different gender/number forms of the same adjective, new.

Because typ is masculine singular, the correct form is nový.

How do you pronounce tento typ je nový?

A simple English-friendly guide would be:

TEN-to tip ye NO-vee

A few notes:

  • j in Czech sounds like English y in yes
  • y/ý is pronounced like a short/long i sound in modern Czech
  • ý is the long version, so nový has a longer final vowel

So je nový sounds roughly like ye no-vee.

Can I say tenhle typ je nový instead?

Yes. Tenhle typ je nový is a very natural everyday way to say this type is new.

Roughly:

  • tento = more neutral, standard, often more formal/written
  • tenhle = very common in speech, more conversational

Both are correct; they just differ in style.

How would I make this sentence negative?

You make it negative by changing je to není.

  • Tento typ je nový. = This type is new.
  • Tento typ není nový. = This type is not new.

The adjective nový stays the same.

How would I turn this into a question?

The easiest way is just to say it with question intonation:

  • Tento typ je nový? = Is this type new?

You can also change the word order:

  • Je tento typ nový?

Both are correct. The second one may feel a little more explicitly question-like to English speakers.

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