Subordinate Clauses

01

Reported Thought and Speech: 'da'

da ("that") introduces what someone thinks, knows or says. Unlike English, it is never dropped.

• Mislim da je u pravu.

  I think that he is right.

• Znam da dolaziš.

  I know you are coming.

• Rekla je da je umorna.

  She said she was tired.

02

Reasons, Times and Conditions

Other conjunctions give the reason, the time or the condition.

• jer (because), ako (if), kad / kada (when), dok (while)

• Ostao sam kod kuće jer je padala kiša.

  I stayed home because it was raining.

• Ako možeš, dođi.

  If you can, come.

• Nazovi me kad stigneš.

  Call me when you arrive.

03

Relative Clauses with 'koji'

To attach a description to a noun, Croatian uses the relative pronoun koji ("which / who"). It agrees in gender and number with the noun it points back to, but takes its case from its own job inside the relative clause.

• Ovo je čovjek koji govori hrvatski.

  This is the man who speaks Croatian.

• Knjiga koju čitam je dobra.

  The book that I am reading is good.

04

The Comma Rule

Croatian normally sets a subordinate clause off with a comma, placed before the conjunction. This holds even where English would leave the comma out.

• Znam da je kasno.

  I know that it is late.

• Učim hrvatski jer mi se sviđa.

  I am learning Croatian because I like it.

05

Questions Inside Sentences

An indirect question keeps its question word (gdje, kada, tko), and for a yes/no question it uses li or je li.

• Ne znam gdje je.

  I don't know where he is.

• Pitam se je li to istina.

  I wonder whether that is true.

06

Purpose: 'da' = in order to

The same da also expresses purpose - "so that / in order to" - followed by a present-tense verb.

• Učim da položim ispit.

  I am studying to pass the exam.

• Došao sam da pomognem.

  I came in order to help.

07

Clitics Stay in Second Place

Inside a subordinate clause the conjunction counts as the first word, so any clitic jumps in right after it.

• Znam da te voli.

  I know that he loves you.

• Mislim da se šališ.

  I think you are joking.

08

Conditions with 'ako' and 'kad'

For a likely condition Croatian uses ako ("if") with the present or future; kad can also mean "when / whenever" for things that repeat.

• Ako budeš slobodan, javi se.

  If you are free, let me know.

• budeš is a special form of biti kept for exactly this job - a condition or a time still to come. The ordinary present si cannot be used here.

• Kad pada kiša, ostajem doma.

  When it rains, I stay home.