Služebna je dnes otevřená.

Breakdown of Služebna je dnes otevřená.

být
to be
dnes
today
otevřený
open
služebna
the police station

Questions & Answers about Služebna je dnes otevřená.

What does služebna mean exactly?

Služebna is a feminine noun. Its exact English translation depends on context.

Common possibilities include:

  • station
  • office
  • duty office / duty room
  • in many contexts, especially police-related, police station

So Služebna je dnes otevřená. can mean something like The station/office is open today.

Why is there je in the sentence?

Je means is.

The sentence structure is:

  • Služebna = the station/office
  • je = is
  • dnes = today
  • otevřená = open

So the grammar is very similar to English:
The station is open today.

Unlike in some other Slavic languages, Czech normally does use the verb být (to be) in the present tense:

  • Služebna je otevřená. = The station is open.
Why does otevřená end in ?

Because otevřená is an adjective, and it agrees with služebna.

Služebna is:

So the adjective must also be feminine singular nominative:

Examples:

  • Obchod je otevřený. = The shop is open.
  • Služebna je otevřená. = The station is open.
  • Muzeum je otevřené. = The museum is open.
Why isn’t it otevřeno, like on signs?

That is a very common question.

On signs, Czech often uses:

  • Otevřeno = Open
  • Zavřeno = Closed

This is a fixed, very common public sign style.

But when you describe a specific noun, the adjective usually agrees with that noun:

  • Služebna je otevřená.
  • Obchod je otevřený.
  • Kancelář je otevřená.

So:

  • otevřeno = a general sign-style expression, Open
  • otevřená = adjective agreeing with služebna

Both relate to the same idea, but they are used differently.

Could I also say Služebna je dnes otevřena?

Yes. Otevřena is also possible.

There is a difference in style:

  • otevřená sounds like the normal everyday adjectival form
  • otevřena is a shorter form that often sounds more formal, official, or written

So:

  • Služebna je dnes otevřená. = natural everyday Czech
  • Služebna je dnes otevřena. = more formal/official style

A learner will hear both, but otevřená is very safe and natural in ordinary speech.

Why is dnes in the middle? Can the word order change?

Yes, Czech word order is flexible.

Služebna je dnes otevřená. is a very normal neutral sentence.

You can also change the order:

  • Dnes je služebna otevřená.
  • Služebna je otevřená dnes.

But the emphasis changes:

  • Služebna je dnes otevřená.
    Neutral: the station is open today.

  • Dnes je služebna otevřená.
    Emphasis on today.

  • Služebna je otevřená dnes.
    Often sounds contrastive, like today (not some other day).

So the original sentence is a natural, neutral choice.

What case is služebna here?

It is in the nominative singular.

That is because služebna is the subject of the sentence:

  • Služebna je dnes otevřená.
    The station is open today.

The subject of a sentence is normally in the nominative.

Why is there no word for the?

Because Czech does not have articles like English a/an/the.

So služebna can mean:

  • a station
  • the station

Context tells you which one is meant.

In a sentence like this, English will often use the:

  • The station is open today.

But Czech simply says:

  • Služebna je dnes otevřená.
How do you pronounce služebna?

A rough pronunciation guide is:

  • služebnaSLOO-zheb-na
  • stress is on the first syllable: SLU-žeb-na

A few details:

  • ž sounds like the s in measure
  • Czech stress is usually on the first syllable
  • the final a is pronounced clearly, not reduced away

So the most important thing is:

Is otevřená an adjective or a kind of passive form?

In this sentence, it is best understood as an adjective meaning open.

So the pattern is:

That is why it agrees with služebna:

In practice, for a learner, the easiest way to read this sentence is simply:

  • Služebna = subject
  • je = is
  • otevřená = open

So: The station is open today.

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