Myslím, že je lepší být s rodinou než s telefonem.

I think that it is better to be with family than with the phone.

Breakdown of Myslím, že je lepší být s rodinou než s telefonem.

• já: I
• být: to be
• rodina: the family
• s: with
• lepší: better
• než: than
• myslet: to think
• že: that
• telefon: the phone

Questions & Answers about Myslím, že je lepší být s rodinou než s telefonem.

Why is there no já (I) at the beginning? Why is it just Myslím and not Já myslím?

In Czech, subject pronouns (like já, ty, on) are usually omitted because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

• myslím = I think (the -ím ending tells you it is já)
• myslíš = you think (singular)
• myslí = he/she/they think or you think (formal)

You can say Já myslím, but it is more emphatic, like I think (as opposed to someone else). In neutral speech, Myslím, že… is the most natural.

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What is the difference between myslím and myslím si? Could I say Myslím si, že je lepší…?

Both myslím and myslím si are correct here, and both mean I think. The difference is subtle:

• myslím – neutral, very common.
• myslím si – can sound a bit more personal/subjective, like I believe / I’m of the opinion.

In everyday speech, you will hear both:

• Myslím, že je to dobrý nápad.
• Myslím si, že je to dobrý nápad.

In your sentence, Myslím, že je lepší… and Myslím si, že je lepší… are both fine.

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Why is there a comma before že?

Czech almost always puts a comma before že when it introduces a subordinate clause (a dependent clause).

• Myslím, že je lepší…
  
  • Myslím = main clause
  • že je lepší být s rodinou než s telefonem = subordinate clause (what you think)

So the comma is required by Czech punctuation rules.

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What does že do here? In English I can say I think it’s better… without that. Can I omit že in Czech?

že corresponds to English that (in I think that…).

• Myslím, že je lepší… = I think that it is better…

In English, that can often be dropped: I think it’s better…
In Czech, že CANNOT be dropped in this kind of sentence.

You cannot say:

• ✗ Myslím je lepší být s rodinou…

You must use:

• ✓ Myslím, že je lepší být s rodinou…

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Why is it je lepší být and not just lepší být? What is the role of je?

The structure is:

• je lepší být… = it is better to be…

je is the verb být (to be), 3rd person singular present (is).
Czech usually needs this je in such impersonal evaluations:

• Je dobré se učit. – It is good to study.
• Je těžké to vysvětlit. – It is hard to explain it.
• Je lepší být s rodinou. – It is better to be with (the) family.

Without je, the sentence is ungrammatical:

• ✗ Myslím, že lepší být s rodinou… – wrong
• ✓ Myslím, že je lepší být s rodinou… – correct

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Why is it s rodinou and s telefonem, not s rodina and s telefon?

The preposition s (with) requires the instrumental case.

• rodina (family), nominative → s rodinou (with family)
• telefon (phone), nominative → s telefonem (with the phone)

So the pattern is:

• s + instrumental
  
  • s kamarádem – with a (male) friend
  • s mámou – with (my) mum
  • s rodinou – with (my/the) family
  • s telefonem – with the phone

Using s rodina or s telefon would be wrong, because those are nominative forms, not instrumental.

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Why is rodinou spelled with -ou but telefonem with -em?

They belong to different noun declension types.

• rodina – feminine noun (ending in -a)

  • Instrumental singular: usually -ou
  • rodina → s rodinou

• telefon – masculine inanimate noun (ending in a consonant)

  • Instrumental singular: usually -em
  • telefon → s telefonem

So both are just regular instrumental endings for their noun types.

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Why is the preposition s and not u or something else? What’s the nuance of s telefonem?

• s
  • instrumental = with someone/something (in someone’s company, physically together)
    
    • být s rodinou – to be with family
    • být s telefonem – (literally) to be with the phone, spending time with it

Other prepositions mean something else:

• u telefonu – at/by the phone (e.g. answering a call)
• u rodiny – at the family’s place (at their house), not with them in general

Your sentence contrasts the company you keep:

• být s rodinou vs. být s telefonem

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Why is lepší the same form for rodinou and telefonem? Shouldn’t it change for gender?

Here, lepší does not directly agree with rodinou or telefonem. The structure is:

• je lepší být s rodinou než s telefonem
  
  • literally: it is better to be with family than with the phone

lepší is in the default (masculine/neuter) form because it goes with an implied to (it):

• (To) je lepší. – It is better.

The comparison is between two infinitive phrases:

• být s rodinou
• (být) s telefonem

You don’t change lepší for those; you keep lepší the same.

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Why is there only one být? Why not …být s rodinou než být s telefonem?

Both versions are grammatically correct:

• Myslím, že je lepší být s rodinou než s telefonem.
• Myslím, že je lepší být s rodinou než být s telefonem.

In Czech, if the verb is the same in both parts of a comparison, you can omit it in the second part:

• Raději budu doma než v práci.
  (than [I’ll be] at work)

Omitting být after než here makes the sentence a bit shorter and more natural in speech, but including it is also fine.

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Could I say Myslím, že být s rodinou je lepší než být s telefonem? Is this word order okay?

Yes, that sentence is completely correct and natural:

• Myslím, že být s rodinou je lepší než být s telefonem.

Here you have:

• být s rodinou as the subject of the clause
• je lepší as the predicate

Both word orders are fine, just slightly different in focus:

1. Myslím, že je lepší být s rodinou než s telefonem.
   – It is better to be with family than with the phone.

2. Myslím, že být s rodinou je lepší než být s telefonem.
   – Being with family is better than being with the phone.

Same meaning in practice; both are good to use.