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Questions & Answers about Hodina začíná brzo ráno.
Why is hodina used instead of something like lekce or třída?
In Czech, hodina can mean a "lesson" or "class period" in a school context—this usage is common. Lekce also means "lesson," but it is often used in contexts like language lessons or private tutoring. Třída literally means "class" (the group of students or the physical classroom). So in most school schedules, you’ll see hodina to refer to a particular period or class slot.
What does začíná literally mean, and why is it in this form?
Začíná comes from the verb začínat, which means "to begin" in the present tense. It is the 3rd person singular form (on/ona/ono začíná). Czech uses different verb endings to indicate the subject, even if the subject (hodina) isn’t a pronoun.
What is the difference between brzo and brzy?
Both brzo and brzy mean "early" and can usually be used interchangeably. Brzy is slightly more common in written Czech, while brzo is perfectly acceptable and often used in everyday speech. They both convey the idea of something happening soon or early.
Is there any difference in meaning if I say ráno first, like Hodina začíná ráno brzo?
Word order in Czech is more flexible than in English, but the most natural flow is Hodina začíná brzo ráno. If you say Hodina začíná ráno brzo, it's not wrong, but it sounds less natural. The usual emphasis is on "brzo ráno" as a single time expression.
Could brzo ráno be replaced with časně ráno to say the class starts "early in the morning"?
Yes, you can use časně ráno, which directly translates to "early in the morning." It carries a slightly more formal or poetic tone than brzo ráno. In everyday conversations, brzo ráno is very common and sounds natural to native speakers.