Breakdown of Počítačová myš je na podložce pod myš.
Questions & Answers about Počítačová myš je na podložce pod myš.
What case is each noun phrase in Počítačová myš je na podložce pod myš?
A quick breakdown:
počítačová myš = nominative singular
It is the subject of the sentence: the thing that is somewhere.na podložce = locative singular
After na with the meaning of location on, Czech uses the locative.pod myš = accusative singular
This is part of the fixed expression podložka pod myš = mouse pad.
So the structure is basically:
[subject in nominative] + je + [location phrase]
Why does počítačová end in -á?
Because Czech adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case.
Here, myš is:
- feminine
- singular
- nominative
So the adjective also has to be:
- feminine
- singular
- nominative
Compare:
- počítačový program = masculine
- počítačová myš = feminine
- počítačové hry = plural
Can myš by itself mean a computer mouse, or do I need to say počítačová myš?
Why is it na podložce and not na podložku?
Because Czech distinguishes between:
- location = where something is
- direction/motion = where something goes
With na:
- na + locative = on something, in a location
- na + accusative = onto something, movement toward a surface
Here the mouse is already there, so it is location:
If you were moving it there, you would use the accusative:
- Dám myš na podložku. = I’ll put the mouse onto the pad.
Why does podložka change to podložce?
Why is it pod myš and not pod myší?
Because in podložka pod myš, Czech uses a fixed expression with pod + accusative.
So here:
- myš is accusative singular
- it just happens to look the same as the nominative form
That is very common with some feminine nouns.
By contrast, pod myší would usually mean under the mouse in a literal location sense, using the instrumental after pod:
- Kabel je pod myší. = The cable is under the mouse.
So:
- podložka pod myš = mouse pad
- pod myší = under the mouse
They are different structures.
Why are both na and pod used in the same sentence?
Because they do different jobs.
- na podložce tells you the actual location of the computer mouse: it is on the pad.
- pod myš is part of the noun phrase podložka pod myš, which means mouse pad.
Literally, podložka pod myš is something like:
- pad under a mouse
- or more naturally in English, mouse pad
So only the first prepositional phrase describes where the mouse is. The second one is part of the name of the object.
Why is je included? Can Czech leave out is?
In a normal sentence like this, je should be there.
Czech often drops subject pronouns:
- Já jsem often becomes just jsem in context
But Czech normally does not drop the present-tense verb to be in ordinary affirmative sentences like this one.
So:
Without je, it would sound incomplete in standard Czech.
Where are the words the and a?
Czech has no articles like English the and a/an.
So the sentence could correspond to:
- The computer mouse is on the mouse pad
- or A computer mouse is on a mouse pad
Which one is meant depends on the context.
Czech usually expresses definiteness through:
- context
- word order
- stress
- sometimes demonstratives like ten, if needed
Is the word order fixed?
Not as fixed as in English.
This sentence has a very natural neutral order:
But Czech can move parts around for emphasis, because case endings show the grammatical roles.
For example:
- Na podložce pod myš je počítačová myš.
This puts more focus on the location.
So the original order is normal, but not the only possible one.
How is this sentence pronounced and stressed?
A few helpful pronunciation points:
- č sounds like ch in church
- š sounds like sh
- ž sounds like the s in measure
- í is a long vowel
So roughly:
Czech stress is usually on the first syllable of each word:
- POčítačová MYŠ je na PODložce pod MYŠ
That basic first-syllable stress rule is very reliable in Czech.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning CzechMaster Czech — from Počítačová myš je na podložce pod myš to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions