Questions & Answers about Ten dům je drahý a stojí hodně peněz.
What does ten mean here, and how is it different from to or tamten?
Ten is a demonstrative adjective meaning roughly “this / that” (for a masculine singular noun). It must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. Here:
- ten dům = this/that house (masculine, singular, nominative)
Differences:
- ten = this/that (right here in context, neutral distance)
- to = this/that (neuter form; also often used as a standalone subject: To je dům. = That is a house.)
- tamten = that (over there / more distant or more contrastive: Tamten dům = that house over there)
So you say ten dům because dům is masculine singular and you’re directly modifying it.
Why is it dům and not dom or domek? What’s the deal with this word?
Dům is the basic word for “house”.
- dom doesn’t exist in modern standard Czech; the correct form is dům with a long ú.
- domek is a diminutive: it suggests a smaller or cute house, like little house / cottage / small home.
The dictionary (base) form is dům (nominative singular). In this sentence, dům is the subject in the nominative case, so it keeps that form: Ten dům je drahý…