Starám se o psa, aby byl spokojený.

to be

Breakdown of Starám se o psa, aby byl spokojený.

• pes: the dog
• o: about
• aby: so that

Questions & Answers about Starám se o psa, aby byl spokojený.

What is the dictionary form of starám se?

It is starat se.
Starám se is the 1st person singular present form, so it means I take care or I look after.

Why is se there? Does it mean myself?

Here se is a reflexive particle that belongs to the verb starat se. It usually should not be translated separately as myself.

It is best to learn this as one unit:

starat se o + accusative = to take care of / look after

So in this sentence, se is part of the normal verb pattern.

Why is it o psa and not o pes?

Because starat se o requires the accusative case.

• pes = nominative singular
• psa = accusative singular

Since pes is a masculine animate noun, its accusative singular changes to psa.

I thought o usually takes the locative. Why is it accusative here?