Learn Hardcore Czech: Můj dědeček často ztrácí klíče i peněženku a je z toho nervózní. - My grandfather often loses his keys and wallet and he is nervous because of it.

můj = my (for a masculine singular noun in the subject position, like dědeček).
Czech possessive pronouns have to agree with the gender and number of the noun:
- můj dědeček (my grandpa – masculine singular)
- moje / má babička (my grandma – feminine singular)
- moje auto (my car – neuter singular)
- moji kamarádi (my friends – masculine animate plural)

So it is můj, because dědeček is masculine singular.

Is dědeček formal, and are there other words for “grandpa” in Czech?

Dědeček is a neutral, slightly affectionate word, similar to grandpa or granddad. It’s not very formal; it’s perfectly normal in everyday speech.

Other options:

děda – more informal, like grandpa / grandad / grandpa in a shorter, more casual way.
dědeček – can sound a bit more “cute” or childlike, but adults also use it.

In this sentence, Můj dědeček is completely standard and natural.

Where does stress fall in Můj dědeček často ztrácí klíče i peněženku a je z toho nervózní?

In Czech, stress is almost always on the first syllable of each word (with a few small exceptions not relevant here).

So approximately:
Můj DĚ-de-ček ČAS-to ZTRÁ-cí KLÍ-če i PE-ně-žen-ku a je z TO-ho NER-vóz-ní.

The stress pattern isn’t used for meaning the way it is in English; it’s mostly fixed.

What is the difference between ztrácí and ztratí / ztratit?

ztrácí is the imperfective verb form (3rd person singular, present) of ztrácet. It focuses on:
- a repeated or ongoing action:
  - často ztrácí klíče = he often loses his keys (habitually)
ztratí is the perfective future (3rd person singular) of ztratit:
- ztratí klíče = he will lose the keys (one specific event in the future)
ztratit itself is the infinitive, to lose (perfective).

In this sentence, často (often) describes a habit, so the imperfective ztrácí is correct.

Why is it často ztrácí and not ztrácí často?

Both často ztrácí klíče and ztrácí často klíče are grammatically correct.

často ztrácí klíče is more common and sounds more neutral; the adverb často naturally comes before the verb.
ztrácí často klíče might slightly emphasize the verb “loses” first and then add how often.

Word order in Czech is flexible and often used for emphasis or rhythm, not just grammar. Here často ztrácí klíče sounds the most natural.

Why is klíče in this form and not klíč?

klíče is the plural, accusative form of klíč (key):

1 key = jeden klíč (nominative singular)
many keys = (ty) klíče (nominative plural)
after a verb like ztrácet (to lose), the object is in the accusative case:
- He loses what? – keys.
- ztrácí klíče (accusative plural)

For this masculine inanimate noun, nominative plural and accusative plural look the same (klíče).

What does i mean in klíče i peněženku? Why not just a?

Both a and i can translate as and, but they are used slightly differently:

a = basic and:
- klíče a peněženku = keys and wallet
i often means and also / as well / both … and and can add a bit of emphasis:
- klíče i peněženku = (his) keys and (his) wallet as well

In this sentence, klíče i peněženku suggests he tends to lose both of these things, not just one; there’s a slight “even the wallet” or “the wallet too” feel.

Why is it peněženku and not peněženka?

peněženka (wallet, purse) is a feminine noun.

Dictionary form: peněženka (nominative singular)
After a verb like ztrácí (= loses), the direct object is in the accusative:
- He loses what? – peněženku (accusative singular)

For a typical feminine noun ending in -a, the accusative singular ending is -u:

babička → babičku
kniha → knihu
peněženka → peněženku

Why doesn’t the sentence say Můj dědeček často ztrácí svoje klíče i peněženku?

It could say that, but in Czech, possessives (like můj / jeho / její / svůj) are often omitted when the owner is obvious from context.

Můj dědeček často ztrácí klíče i peněženku.
→ Because the subject is můj dědeček, it’s clear we mean his keys and his wallet.
If there might be confusion (e.g. his vs someone else’s), you can add:
- své klíče i peněženku (his own keys and wallet – referring back to the subject)
- jeho klíče i peněženku (his keys and wallet – referring to some other “him”)

Here, dropping the possessive is the natural choice.

What does je z toho nervózní literally mean? How does z toho work?

je z toho nervózní literally means “he is nervous from that”, i.e. he gets nervous because of it.

je = he is
nervózní = nervous (same form for masculine and feminine in predicative use)
z toho:
- z = from, out of (a preposition that takes the genitive case)
- toho = genitive of to (= that / it)

So z toho = from that / because of that (situation).
It’s a very common way to say as a result of that, he feels X.

Why is the word order je z toho nervózní and not je nervózní z toho?

Both are correct:

je z toho nervózní (used in the sentence)
je nervózní z toho

The difference is mostly in rhythm and slight emphasis:

je z toho nervózní:
- puts z toho earlier, so we first hear “from that (situation)” and then the emotional result “nervous”.
je nervózní z toho:
- sounds a bit more like “he is nervous because of that”, with nervózní emphasized first.

Czech word order is flexible; both variants are natural here.

Does nervózní change form depending on gender or case?

nervózní is an adjective. In the predicate (after je / jsem / jsou, etc.), it typically appears in a form that does not change for gender:

On je nervózní. – He is nervous.
Ona je nervózní. – She is nervous.
Oni jsou nervózní. – They are nervous.

If you use it attributively (before a noun), it does inflect:

nervózní muž (nervous man – masculine)
nervózní žena (nervous woman – feminine)
nervózní dítě (nervous child – neuter)
nervózní lidé (nervous people – plural)

The form nervózní just happens to look the same in many of these forms, which makes it easier to learn.

Could I say proto je nervózní instead of a je z toho nervózní?

Yes, you could, but the nuance changes a bit.

a je z toho nervózní = and he is nervous about it / because of it.
- Very natural, slightly more informal, directly tying his emotion to the situation (loses keys and wallet).
proto je nervózní = therefore he is nervous / that’s why he is nervous.
- Slightly more explicit cause–effect connector, sounds a bit more structured.

A natural variant could be:

Můj dědeček často ztrácí klíče i peněženku, proto je nervózní.
(My grandpa often loses his keys and wallet; that’s why he’s nervous.)

The original a je z toho nervózní sounds very conversational.

Is the whole sentence in the present tense, and how would I say it in the past?

Yes, the original is present tense, describing a current habit:

Můj dědeček často ztrácí klíče i peněženku a je z toho nervózní.
= My grandpa often loses his keys and wallet and is nervous about it.

In the past (still habitual, but about a previous time), you can say:

Můj dědeček často ztrácel klíče i peněženku a byl z toho nervózní.
- ztrácel = past tense of ztrácet (imperfective)
- byl = he was

This would mean He used to often lose his keys and wallet and was nervous about it.