++ [ originally posted by Andy
] ++
Well, you don't have a problem with it now do you.
No, but I was born here.
The thing here that foreigners have most problesm with is something called "padeži". Basically, they are different versions of the same word used in different meanings or contexs. Nouns, numbers, pronouns and adjectives have them. There are 7 of them.
For example, in English you'll say:
He's the winner
I just got something from the winner
I'm going towards the winner
I kissed the winner
Hey you, the winner
I'm going home with the winner
I'm talking about the winner
Round here it would be:
On je pobjednik
Dobio sam nešto od pobjednik
a
Idem prema pobjednik
u
Poljubio sam pobjednik
a
Hej ti, pobjedni
če
Idem kući sa pobjednik
om
Pričam o pobjednik
u
Same for numbers for example. You'd always say "first", while round here, depending on the context, theres:
prvi
prvog
prvom
prvog
prvi
prvim
prvom
Same for pronouns, and adjectives. Let's not even start with the verbs and all the tenses.
It can be really hard for foreigners to get it right. It's hard to learn, it usually goes by feeling.
They have to match, meaning the noun and the adjective relating to it have to have the same padež.
In english you'd say, for example, beautiful woman
Here it would be
lijepa žena
lijepe žene
lijepoj ženi
lijepu ženu
lijepa ženo
lijepom ženom
lijepoj ženi