Understanding Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions in Croatian

What Are Conjunctions in Croatian?

Conjunctions are words that connect clauses, sentences, or words. In Croatian, conjunctions are essential for linking ideas smoothly and clearly. They are divided mainly into two types: coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating Conjunctions in Croatian

Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal importance. They do not change the grammatical structure of the clauses they connect.

• i (and)
• ili (or)
• ali (but)
• pa (so, then)
• nego (but rather)

Example sentences:

- Volim kavu i čaj. (I like coffee and tea.)

- Hoćeš li čaj ili kavu? (Do you want tea or coffee?)

Subordinating Conjunctions in Croatian

Subordinating conjunctions connect a dependent clause to an independent clause, showing a relationship such as cause, time, condition, or contrast.

• da (that)
• ako (if)
• kada (when)
• jer (because)
• iako (although)

Example sentences:

- Znam da dolaziš. (I know that you are coming.)

- Ostat ću doma ako pada kiša. (I will stay home if it rains.)

Tips for Using Croatian Conjunctions

• Coordinating conjunctions usually connect elements of the same grammatical type.
• Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and affect word order.
• Pay attention to verb placement after subordinating conjunctions; often the verb goes to the end of the clause.
• Practice common conjunctions to improve sentence flow and complexity.

Common Croatian Conjunctions and Their English Equivalents