Záchranná vesta je vedle vodotěsného vaku.

to be

Breakdown of Záchranná vesta je vedle vodotěsného vaku.

• vedle: next to
• záchranná vesta: the life jacket
• vodotěsný vak: the dry bag

Questions & Answers about Záchranná vesta je vedle vodotěsného vaku.

Why is vodotěsného vaku in that form instead of vodotěsný vak?

Because the preposition vedle (next to / beside) requires the genitive case in Czech.

So:

• vodotěsný vak = nominative, the basic dictionary form
• vedle vodotěsného vaku = genitive, because it comes after vedle

This is a very common thing in Czech: prepositions often force a specific case.

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What case does vedle take?

Vedle takes the genitive.

Examples:

• vedle domu = next to the house
• vedle auta = next to the car
• vedle vodotěsného vaku = next to the waterproof bag

So if you use vedle, the noun after it should be in the genitive.

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Why does záchranná end in -á?

Because záchranná agrees with vesta, and vesta is a feminine singular noun.

In Czech, adjectives must agree with the noun in:

• gender
• number
• case

Here:

• vesta = feminine singular nominative
• so the adjective is záchranná

Compare:

• záchranná vesta = life jacket
• záchranný člun = lifeboat
• záchranné lano = rescue rope

The ending changes depending on the noun.

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