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Jsem unavený, ale i tak půjdu do práce.

Jsem unavený, ale i tak půjdu do práce.
I am tired, but I will still go to work.

Breakdown of Jsem unavený, ale i tak půjdu do práce.

já
I
být
to be
jít
to go
do
to
práce
the work
ale
but
unavený
tired
i tak
anyway
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Questions & Answers about Jsem unavený, ale i tak půjdu do práce.

Why is there no já in Jsem unavený? In English we must say I am tired.

In Czech, subject pronouns (like já = I) are usually left out because the verb form already shows the person.

  • jsem can only be I am, so já is not needed.
  • Jsem unavený = Já jsem unavený = I am tired.

You add já only for emphasis or contrast, for example:

  • Já jsem unavený, ale ty ne. – I am tired, but you are not. (stressing I)
Why does unavený end with -ý? Would it change for a woman?

Unavený is an adjective meaning tired, and its ending changes to agree with the gender and number of the person:

  • Jsem unavený. – man speaking (singular masculine, usually animate → -ý)
  • Jsem unavená. – woman speaking (singular feminine → -á)
  • Jsme unavení. – group with at least one man (plural masculine animate → -í)
  • Jsme unavené. – group of only women (plural feminine → -é)

So a woman would not say Jsem unavený, but Jsem unavená.

What exactly does ale i tak mean? Is it just but?

Ale i tak is stronger than just ale.

  • ale = but
  • i tak = even so / still / anyway

Together ale i tak is like saying:

  • but even so
  • but still
  • but I’ll go anyway

So Jsem unavený, ale i tak půjdu do práce =
I’m tired, but I’ll still go to work / I’ll go to work anyway.

Can I replace ale i tak with something else, like přesto or stejně?

Yes, there are several natural alternatives with slightly different style:

  • Jsem unavený, ale přesto půjdu do práce.
    – I’m tired, but nevertheless I’ll go to work. (a bit more formal / written)

  • Jsem unavený, ale stejně půjdu do práce.
    – I’m tired, but I’ll go to work anyway. (very common, neutral–colloquial)

  • Jsem unavený, přesto půjdu do práce.
    – no ale, sounds quite formal or written.

Ale i tak is neutral and very common in speech and writing.

What is půjdu? Is it future tense of jít?

Yes. Půjdu is:

  • 1st person singular
  • future tense
  • of the verb jít (to go – on foot, specific single movement).

So:

  • jdu – I am going / I go (present)
  • půjdu – I will go (future, one specific going)

Compare:

  • Zítra půjdu do práce. – I will go to work tomorrow (one time).
  • Každý den chodím do práce. – I go to work every day (habitual, uses chodit, the frequentative verb).
Why do we use půjdu and not jdu here? Could I say … ale i tak jdu do práce?

You normally use půjdu because you’re talking about a decision or future action:

  • … ale i tak půjdu do práce.
    – … but I’ll still go to work (I’ve decided I will go, despite being tired).

… ale i tak jdu do práce is possible, but it sounds more like:

  • You are on your way right now or
  • You have a fixed schedule and you’re stating a present/fixed fact:
    I’m tired, but I’m going to work (as usual / now).

So půjdu emphasizes a future, single decision; jdu describes current or scheduled going.

Why is it do práce and not na práci or something else?

Do práce is the standard phrase for to work (as a place you go to):

  • do
    • genitive → direction into / to a place, especially buildings and workplaces.
  • práce becomes práce in genitive (same form in singular).

So:

  • jdu do práce – I’m going to work (to my workplace)

Other common phrases:

  • jsem v práci – I am at work (location, v
    • locative)
  • mám hodně práce – I have a lot of work (to do) (work as an activity)
  • na práci – for work (purpose), e.g.
    Potřebuju nástroj na práci. – I need a tool for work.

So do práce here is about going to the workplace, not about having tasks to do.

Is the comma before ale obligatory in Czech?

Yes. In standard Czech orthography, you put a comma before ale when it joins two clauses:

  • Jsem unavený, ale i tak půjdu do práce.

Both parts could stand as separate sentences:

  • Jsem unavený.
  • I tak půjdu do práce.

Because of that, a comma is required.

Can I change the word order, for example … ale půjdu i tak do práce or … ale i tak do práce půjdu?

Yes, Czech word order is flexible, and all of these are grammatically correct:

  • Jsem unavený, ale i tak půjdu do práce.
    – neutral, very natural.

  • Jsem unavený, ale půjdu i tak do práce.
    – slightly more emphasis on půjdu (the act of going) and i tak feels more attached to the verb.

  • Jsem unavený, ale i tak do práce půjdu.
    – emphasizes do práce or půjdu at the end; can sound a bit more emotional:
    … but I’ll go to work anyway (I really will).

The basic meaning is the same; differences are mostly in emphasis and rhythm.

How formal or informal is this sentence? Would it sound natural in everyday speech?

Jsem unavený, ale i tak půjdu do práce. is neutral and perfectly natural in everyday speech.

In very casual spoken Czech, especially in Prague and some other regions, a man might say:

  • Jsem unavenej, ale i tak půjdu do práce.

Here unavenej is a colloquial spoken form of unavený. In writing or in more formal situations, you use unavený.

Is there any difference in nuance between saying Jsem unavený, ale i tak půjdu do práce and Jsem unavený, ale musím jít do práce?

Yes, the nuance is different:

  • … ale i tak půjdu do práce.
    – Focus on your decision/willingness:
    I’m tired, but I’ll still go (I choose to go / I’ll manage).

  • … ale musím jít do práce.
    – Focus on obligation:
    I’m tired, but I have to go to work (I don’t have a choice).

Both are correct; choose based on whether you want to stress your determination (půjdu) or duty (musím jít).