V kavárně si vezmu kávu bez cukru.

Questions & Answers about V kavárně si vezmu kávu bez cukru.

Why is it v kavárně and not v kavárna?

Because v meaning in is followed by the locative case when it shows location.

  • dictionary form: kavárna = café
  • locative singular: v kavárně = in the café

So this is a normal case change after the preposition v.


Why is kávu ending in -u?

Because kávu is the direct object of the verb vezmu.

The noun káva is feminine, and in the singular its accusative form is:

  • nominative: káva
  • accusative: kávu

Since the speaker is taking/ordering a coffee, Czech puts káva into the accusative:

  • vezmu kávu = I’ll take / have a coffee

What does si mean here?

Si is a very common Czech clitic. In this sentence it means something like for myself.

So:

  • vezmu kávu = I’ll take a coffee
  • vezmu si kávu = I’ll take/get myself a coffee

In English we usually do not translate si directly, but in Czech it often appears with actions people do for their own benefit, especially with food and drinks.

This is very natural in sentences like:

  • Dám si kávu. = I’ll have a coffee.
  • Vezmu si kávu. = I’ll take/have a coffee.

Why is it vezmu? Doesn’t that look like present tense?

Yes, the form looks present, but vzít is a perfective verb. In Czech, perfective verbs do not have a true present meaning. Their “present” forms usually refer to the future.

So:

  • vezmu = I will take / I’ll have

This is why vezmu can be translated as a future idea in English.

Compare:

  • beru = I am taking / I take (imperfective)
  • vezmu = I will take / I’ll take (perfective)

Why is it bez cukru and not bez cukr?

Because the preposition bez (without) requires the genitive case.

  • dictionary form: cukr = sugar
  • genitive singular: cukru

So:

  • bez cukru = without sugar

This is a very useful pattern to remember:

  • bez mléka = without milk
  • bez problémů = without problems
  • bez cukru = without sugar

Is bez cukru connected to kávu or to the whole sentence?

It is understood as describing the coffee:

  • kávu bez cukru = coffee without sugar

So the structure is basically:

  • V kavárně = in the café
  • si vezmu = I’ll have / take for myself
  • kávu bez cukru = coffee without sugar

Why is there no word for a or the?

Because Czech has no articles.

So Czech simply says:

  • kavárna = café / a café / the café
  • káva = coffee / a coffee / the coffee

English needs articles, but Czech usually leaves that information to context.


Is the word order fixed in V kavárně si vezmu kávu bez cukru?

No, Czech word order is fairly flexible, but this version sounds natural and neutral.

This sentence starts with V kavárně to set the scene: In the café...

Then comes si vezmu, and then the thing being taken:

  • kávu bez cukru

Other word orders are possible, but they change emphasis. For example:

  • Kávu bez cukru si vezmu v kavárně.
    This puts more focus on coffee without sugar.

The original sentence is a normal, natural way to say it.


Why does si come after V kavárně and not somewhere else?

Because si is a clitic, and Czech clitics usually go in the second position in the clause.

So in:

  • V kavárně si vezmu kávu bez cukru.

the first unit is V kavárně, and si comes right after it.

This second-position behavior is very common with words like:

  • si
  • se
  • mi
  • ti
  • ho
  • jsem

So even though English learners may want to place si right next to the verb, Czech often puts it in second position instead.


Could I say Dám si kávu bez cukru instead?

Yes, absolutely. In everyday Czech, Dám si kávu bez cukru is probably even more common when ordering or deciding what to have.

Both are possible:

  • Dám si kávu bez cukru. = I’ll have a coffee without sugar.
  • Vezmu si kávu bez cukru. = I’ll take/have a coffee without sugar.

Dám si often sounds especially natural for food and drinks.


What is the basic form of vezmu?

The infinitive is vzít = to take.

Some important forms are:

  • vzít = to take
  • vezmu = I will take
  • vezmeš = you will take
  • vezme = he/she/it will take

The verb is a bit irregular, so it is worth learning as a full pattern rather than trying to build it from the infinitive mechanically.


How would a Czech speaker naturally understand this sentence overall?

They would hear it as a very normal statement like:

  • In the café, I’ll have a coffee without sugar.

The sentence sounds natural and idiomatic because it uses:

  • v + locative for location
  • si for a personal, self-benefiting action
  • vezmu as a perfective future
  • accusative for the thing being taken
  • bez + genitive for without sugar

So it is a good example of several very common Czech patterns working together.

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
What's the best way to learn Czech grammar?
Czech grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Czech

Master Czech — from V kavárně si vezmu kávu bez cukru to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • AI tutor to answer your grammar questions