Evidenční známka patří k psovi s mikročipem.

Questions & Answers about Evidenční známka patří k psovi s mikročipem.

What does evidenční známka mean here?

In this context, evidenční známka means something like an identification tag, registration tag, or official dog tag.

  • evidenční = relating to records, registration, or official identification
  • známka = mark, badge, tag, token, stamp, etc., depending on context

So together, it is not just any tag, but an official tag connected with registration/record-keeping.

Why is there no word for the or a?

Because Czech does not use articles the way English does.

So Evidenční známka can mean:

  • a registration tag
  • the registration tag

Which one is meant depends on the context. English forces you to choose; Czech usually does not.

What cases are being used in this sentence?

There are three important case forms here:

  • Evidenční známka = nominative
    This is the subject of the sentence.

  • k psovi = dative
    The preposition k requires the dative case.

  • s mikročipem = instrumental
    The preposition s meaning with requires the instrumental case.

So the structure is:

  • subject: the tag
  • relation: belongs/goes with
  • target: to the dog
  • description of the dog: with a microchip
Why is it psovi and not pes?

Because pes is the basic dictionary form, but after k you need the dative case.

The noun changes like this:

  • pes = dog
  • psovi = to the dog

So:

  • pes = nominative
  • k psovi = to/toward/with respect to the dog

This is also slightly irregular, because pes changes its stem to ps- in many forms.

Could it also be psu instead of psovi?

Yes. The dative singular of pes can be psovi or psu.

However:

  • psovi is very common and often clearer for learners
  • psu is shorter and also correct

So both are grammatical, but psovi is a very normal choice here.

What exactly does patří k mean here?

Here patří k means belongs with, goes with, or is assigned to.

That is a bit different from plain patřit někomu:

  • Známka patří psovi = The tag belongs to the dog.
  • Známka patří k psovi = The tag goes with that dog / is associated with that dog.

In administrative or official language, patří k can sound a little more like is linked to or corresponds to.

Why is it s mikročipem?

Because s meaning with requires the instrumental case.

The noun changes like this:

  • mikročip = microchip
  • s mikročipem = with a microchip

So -em is the instrumental ending here.

Does s mikročipem describe the dog or the tag?

It describes the dog.

So the meaning is:

  • k psovi s mikročipem = to the dog with a microchip

In other words, this is basically a shorter version of:

  • k psovi, který má mikročip = to the dog that has a microchip

The context makes it clear that the dog has the microchip, not the tag.

Why is there a p in psovi, and do you pronounce it?

Yes, you pronounce it.

The noun pes changes stem in many forms:

  • pes
  • psa
  • psovi
  • psi

So the p is not silent. The beginning of psovi is pronounced like the ps- in English psst, followed by -ovi.

This kind of stem change is normal for some Czech nouns.

Can the word order be changed?

Yes. Czech word order is relatively flexible because the case endings show the grammatical relationships.

The given sentence is a neutral, natural order:

  • Evidenční známka patří k psovi s mikročipem.

But you could also say:

  • K psovi s mikročipem patří evidenční známka.

That version puts more emphasis on the dog with the microchip.

So the word order can change, but the emphasis changes too.

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