Potřebuji počítač, protože chci psát úkol.

I need a computer because I want to write a homework assignment.

Breakdown of Potřebuji počítač, protože chci psát úkol.

• já: I
• chtít: to want
• potřebovat: to need
• protože: because
• psát: to write
• úkol: the homework assignment
• počítač: the computer

Questions & Answers about Potřebuji počítač, protože chci psát úkol.

Why don’t we use “musím” instead of “potřebuji”?

While musím means “I must,” potřebuji means “I need.” If you say “musím počítač,” it would imply “I must have a computer (I have no choice),” whereas potřebuji počítač stresses the need or necessity.

Why is the object "počítač" in the accusative form here?

In Czech, after verbs that typically take a direct object (like potřebovat, meaning “to need”), the noun is placed in the accusative case. Here, počítač is the direct object of potřebovat, so it appears as “počítač,” which is the accusative form.

Is there a difference between “protože” and “proto” when saying “because”?

Yes. Protože is a conjunction that directly means “because,” and it connects clauses. Proto is more like “therefore” or “that’s why” and usually appears with an additional conjunction if you want to show cause. In the sentence, we use protože to directly give the reason (“because I want to write an assignment”).

Why does the verb “psát” here mean “to write,” while in English we might say “do homework”?

In Czech, psát úkol is the standard expression for “working on a written assignment” or “doing homework.” While in English people often say “do homework,” Czech speakers typically use psát (to write) for certain tasks, especially written ones.

Could we replace “psát úkol” with something else like “dělat úkol”?

Yes, you can say dělat úkol, and many native speakers do. The nuance is that psát úkol is more specific if you’re literally writing it, whereas dělat úkol can sound a bit more general. Both are correct in everyday language.