Understanding the Locative Case and Prepositions in Croatian for English Speakers

What is the Locative Case in Croatian?

The locative case in Croatian is used primarily to indicate location or the place where something happens. It answers the question "Where?" and is always used with certain prepositions. Unlike English, Croatian uses specific case endings to show this relationship.

When to Use the Locative Case

In Croatian, the locative case is used after prepositions that denote location or topics of speech. It is not used on its own but always in combination with these prepositions. Common prepositions that require the locative case include u (in), na (on/at), o (about), and po (around/along).

Examples of Prepositions with the Locative Case

Here are some common prepositions that govern the locative case:

• u – in (e.g., u školi – in the school)
• na – on/at (e.g., na stolu – on the table)
• o – about (e.g., o knjizi – about the book)
• po – around/along (e.g., po gradu – around the city)

Locative Case Endings for Nouns

The endings of nouns in the locative case depend on their gender and number. Here is a simplified overview:

• Masculine nouns typically end in -u or -u (e.g., grad → gradu)
• Feminine nouns often end in -i or -e (e.g., škola → školi)
• Neuter nouns usually end in -u (e.g., more → moru)

Using the Locative Case with Prepositions: Examples

Let's look at some example sentences to see how the locative case works with prepositions:

• Razgovaramo o knjizi. – We are talking about the book.
• On je u gradu. – He is in the city.
• Stavim to na stolu. – I put it on the table.
• Šetamo po parku. – We are walking around the park.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Useful Croatian Phrases Using the Locative Case