Existential 'ima' and 'nema' — Croatian Grammar

To say "there is" or "there are", Croatian does not use a special phrase like English. It presses the verb "to have" into impersonal service: for "there is / are" and for "there isn't / aren't".

'ima' = There Is / There Are

The single form covers both singular and plural - it never changes for number. What follows it goes into the genitive when it means "some" or an amount. A single thing counted with / (one) stays in the nominative: - There is one apple.

Ima kruha.
There is some bread.
Ima li mjesta?
Is there room?
U gradu ima mnogo turista.
There are many tourists in the city.

'nema' = There Isn't / Aren't

The negative of is , which likewise never changes for number and is followed by the genitive. It is also how you say something is absent or someone is away.

Nema problema.
No problem.
Nema kruha.
There is no bread.
Ane nema kod kuće.
Ana is not at home.

The Same Verb Means 'to Have'

With a personal subject, the verb behind is ordinary "to have", and then it takes a normal accusative object - only the impersonal "there is" use of forces the genitive.

Imam psa i mačku.
I have a dog and a cat.
Imaš li kišobran?
Do you have an umbrella?

Stating Quantity

(there is) is the natural way to say how much of something there is, paired with a quantity word and the genitive.

Ima dovoljno vode.
There is enough water.
Koliko ima sati?
What time is it?

In the Past and Future

For other tenses, and step aside for the impersonal neuter of : ("there was") and its negative , both still followed by the genitive.

Bilo je puno ljudi.
There were a lot of people.
Nije bilo kruha.
There was no bread.
Bit će problema.
There will be trouble.

Comments

Loading comments…