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Questions & Answers about Ano, to je velký dům.
Why do we use Ano here instead of just saying To je velký dům?
Because Ano means Yes or Indeed in Czech. It simply confirms or agrees with whatever was asked or discussed before. Adding Ano at the beginning is a common way to say Yes, that is a big house.
Why is to used before je? Could we just say Ano, je velký dům?
In Czech, to serves as a demonstrative pronoun meaning it or that. While Ano, je velký dům might be understood, it would sound unnatural, because Czech usually includes to to point to the subject. So Ano, to je velký dům is the natural way to say Yes, that is a big house.
Why is the adjective velký used here and not velká or velké?
Adjectives in Czech agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe. Dům (house) is masculine singular, so the correct form of the adjective is velký (masculine singular). For a feminine noun like žena (woman), it would be velká, and for a neuter noun like město (city), it would be velké.
What does dům mean, and why does it have this form?
Dům means house in Czech. It is a masculine noun in its nominative singular form. Nouns in Czech have different endings based on gender, number, and case. Dům is the standard dictionary form (nominative singular) for house.
How does word order work in Czech for sentences like Ano, to je velký dům? Could we say Ano, velký dům to je?
Czech word order is relatively flexible, but Ano, to je velký dům is the most natural way. Saying Ano, velký dům to je is more emphatic and slightly more poetic or dramatic. In everyday speech, Ano, to je velký dům is standard.