A2 Prepositions 1 min read آسان

Expressing 'By Means of' (Čime?)

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the Instrumental case (ending in -om, -em, or -im) to describe the tool or method used to perform an action.

  • Use Instrumental for tools: 'Pišem olovkom' (I write with a pen).
  • Use Instrumental for transportation: 'Putujem vlakom' (I travel by train).
  • Use Instrumental for accompaniment: 'Idem s prijateljem' (I go with a friend).
Noun + Ending (-om/-em/-im) = Tool/Means

Instrumental Case Endings

Gender Nominative Instrumental Example
Masculine
Vlak
Vlakom
Putujem vlakom
Masculine
Nož
Nožem
Režem nožem
Neuter
More
Morem
Plivam morem
Neuter
Pismo
Pismom
Šaljem pismom
Feminine
Kava
Kavom
S kavom
Feminine
Stvar
Stvari
S tom stvari

Meanings

The Instrumental case is used to indicate the instrument, tool, or means by which an action is carried out. It answers the question 'Čime?' (With what?).

1

Instrument/Tool

The physical object used to perform an action.

“Slikam kistom.”

“Pišem olovkom.”

2

Transportation

The mode of transport used for travel.

“Putujem vlakom.”

“Idem autobusom.”

3

Accompaniment

Being with someone or something.

“Idem s prijateljem.”

“Pijem kavu s mlijekom.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Expressing 'By Means of' (Čime?)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + -om/-em
Pišem olovkom
Negative
Ne + Verb + Noun-om
Ne pišem olovkom
Question
Čime + Verb + Noun-om?
Čime pišeš?
Accompaniment
S + Noun-om
Idem s prijateljem
Transport
Noun-om
Idem vlakom
Plural
Noun + -ima
Pišem rukama

طیف رسمیت

رسمی
Idem s kolegom.

Idem s kolegom. (Social)

خنثی
Idem s prijateljem.

Idem s prijateljem. (Social)

غیر رسمی
Idem s frendom.

Idem s frendom. (Social)

عامیانه
Idem s ekipom.

Idem s ekipom. (Social)

Instrumental Case Uses

Instrumental

Tools

  • olovkom with a pen

Transport

  • vlakom by train

Company

  • s prijateljem with a friend

Instrumental vs Locative

Instrumental
nožem with a knife
Locative
na stolu on the table
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مثال‌ها بر اساس سطح

1

Pišem olovkom.

I write with a pen.

2

Idem autobusom.

I go by bus.

3

Pijem kavu s mlijekom.

I drink coffee with milk.

4

Idem s prijateljem.

I go with a friend.

1

Režem kruh nožem.

I cut bread with a knife.

2

Putujem vlakom u Zagreb.

I travel by train to Zagreb.

3

Razgovaram s učiteljem.

I am talking with the teacher.

4

Bavim se sportom.

I am involved in sports.

1

Upravljam ovim projektom.

I am managing this project.

2

Služio se računalom cijeli dan.

He used the computer all day.

3

Došao je s velikim koferom.

He came with a big suitcase.

4

Oduševljen sam ovim filmom.

I am thrilled by this movie.

1

Ponosim se svojim radom.

I am proud of my work.

2

Vrijeme prolazi kišom i vjetrom.

Time passes with rain and wind.

3

Smatraju ga velikim umjetnikom.

They consider him a great artist.

4

Zadovoljan sam postignutim rezultatom.

I am satisfied with the achieved result.

1

Postao je poznatim piscem preko noći.

He became a famous writer overnight.

2

Sve je to učinjeno velikim trudom.

All of that was done with great effort.

3

Ona vlada situacijom mirno.

She controls the situation calmly.

4

Bori se riječima, a ne silom.

He fights with words, not with force.

1

Zemlja je prekrivena snijegom i ledom.

The land is covered with snow and ice.

2

Sve je to bilo popraćeno velikim slavljem.

All of that was accompanied by a great celebration.

3

On se bavi filozofijom i književnošću.

He deals with philosophy and literature.

4

Smijehom se liječe mnoge rane.

Many wounds are healed with laughter.

به‌راحتی اشتباه گرفته می‌شود

Expressing 'By Means of' (Čime?) در مقابل Instrumental vs Locative

Both can end in similar sounds, but they have different functions.

Expressing 'By Means of' (Čime?) در مقابل Instrumental vs Accusative

Learners often use Accusative for tools.

Expressing 'By Means of' (Čime?) در مقابل Transport with/without 's'

Learners think 'with' always means 's'.

اشتباهات رایج

✗

Idem s auto

✓

Idem autom

Don't use 's' for transport, and change the ending.
✗

Pišem olovka

✓

Pišem olovkom

Must use the Instrumental case for tools.
✗

Idem s prijatelj

✓

Idem s prijateljem

Missing the case ending after 's'.
✗

Pijem kavu s mlijeko

✓

Pijem kavu s mlijekom

Missing the case ending.
✗

Radim s računalo

✓

Radim s računalom

Neuter noun needs -om ending.
✗

Putujem s vlakom

✓

Putujem vlakom

No 's' needed for transport.
✗

Režem nož

✓

Režem nožem

Need Instrumental for tools.
✗

Upravljam projekt

✓

Upravljam projektom

Verbs like 'upravljati' require Instrumental.
✗

Bavim se sport

✓

Bavim se sportom

Verbs like 'baviti se' require Instrumental.
✗

Ponosim se rad

✓

Ponosim se radom

Verbs like 'ponositi se' require Instrumental.
✗

Smatraju ga umjetnik

✓

Smatraju ga umjetnikom

Predicative Instrumental is required.
✗

Postao je pisac

✓

Postao je piscem

Predicative Instrumental is required.
✗

Vlada situacija

✓

Vlada situacijom

Verbs like 'vladati' require Instrumental.

الگوهای جمله‌سازی

Idem ___.

Pišem ___.

Idem s ___.

Bavim se ___.

Real World Usage

Texting very common

Idem autom, vidimo se!

Ordering Food very common

Kava s mlijekom, molim.

Job Interview common

Upravljam timom od deset ljudi.

Travel common

Putujem vlakom u Split.

Social Media common

Uživam s prijateljima!

Delivery Apps common

Pizza s feferonima.

برای دیدن همه مثال‌ها رایگان ثبت‌نام کنید
💡

Check the question

If you can ask 'Čime?' (With what?), you need the Instrumental case.
⚠️

No 's' for transport

Never use 's' when talking about buses, trains, or cars. Just use the noun ending.
🎯

Learn verbs with cases

When learning new verbs, check if they require the Instrumental case (like 'baviti se').
💬

Sound natural

Using the Instrumental case correctly is the fastest way to sound like a native speaker.

Smart Tips

Drop the 's' and just use the Instrumental ending.

Idem s vlakom. → Idem vlakom.

Always check the noun ending after 's'.

Idem s prijatelj. → Idem s prijateljem.

Remember these verbs are 'Instrumental magnets'.

Bavim se sport. → Bavim se sportom.

Use the Instrumental case to replace wordy prepositional phrases.

To je učinjeno s velikim trudom. → To je učinjeno velikim trudom.

تلفظ

vlak-om

Instrumental endings

The '-om' ending is pronounced with a clear 'o' sound.

Statement

Pišem olovkom. ↘

Falling intonation for statements.

حفظ کنید

روش یادسپاری

Think of the 'Instrumental' as the 'Tool-mental' case—it's for the tools you use!

تداعی تصویری

Imagine a giant pen (olovka) with an 'om' sticker on it. Every time you use a tool, you stick that 'om' sticker on it.

Rhyme

If you use a tool or a pen, add 'om' or 'em' at the end!

Story

Marko wanted to go to the city. He took the train (vlakom). He wrote a letter to his friend (prijateljem) using a pen (olovkom). He was happy with his day (danom).

شبکه واژگان

olovkomvlakomprijateljemnožemkavomautobusomsportom

چالش

For the next 5 minutes, name every object you touch and try to put it in the Instrumental case (e.g., 'Tipkam tipkovnicom').

نکات فرهنگی

Using the Instrumental case correctly is a sign of a well-educated speaker.

Locals might drop the 's' or use different endings in very casual speech.

Standard Croatian is used in most formal settings.

The Instrumental case comes from Proto-Slavic, where it was used to denote the means of an action.

شروع‌کننده‌های مکالمه

“

Čime putuješ na posao?

“

S kim najradije piješ kavu?

“

Čime se baviš u slobodno vrijeme?

“

Smatraš li se uspješnim čovjekom?

موضوعات نگارش

Describe your morning routine using at least 3 tools.
Write about your favorite way to travel.
Describe a project you are currently managing.
Reflect on how you have changed as a person.

اشتباهات رایج

Incorrect

صحیح

Incorrect

صحیح

Incorrect

صحیح

Incorrect

صحیح

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct Instrumental form.

Pišem ___ (olovka).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: olovkom
Feminine noun + -om.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Idem s autom.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Idem autom.
No 's' for transport.
Choose the correct sentence. چند گزینه‌ای

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pijem kavu s mlijekom.
Requires Instrumental after 's'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

vlakom / putujem / Zagreb / u

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: All are correct.
Croatian word order is flexible.
Match the noun to its Instrumental form. جفت کردن

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vlakom, Kavom, Nožem
Correct endings.
Conjugate 'sport' in Instrumental. Conjugation Drill

Bavim se ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sportom
Requires Instrumental.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Čime režeš kruh? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nožem.
Tool requires Instrumental.
Is this true? True False Rule

The Instrumental case is used for location.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Locative is for location.

Score: /8

تمرین‌های عملی

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct Instrumental form.

Pišem ___ (olovka).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: olovkom
Feminine noun + -om.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Idem s autom.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Idem autom.
No 's' for transport.
Choose the correct sentence. چند گزینه‌ای

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pijem kavu s mlijekom.
Requires Instrumental after 's'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

vlakom / putujem / Zagreb / u

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: All are correct.
Croatian word order is flexible.
Match the noun to its Instrumental form. جفت کردن

Match: Vlak, Kava, Nož

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vlakom, Kavom, Nožem
Correct endings.
Conjugate 'sport' in Instrumental. Conjugation Drill

Bavim se ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sportom
Requires Instrumental.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Čime režeš kruh? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nožem.
Tool requires Instrumental.
Is this true? True False Rule

The Instrumental case is used for location.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Locative is for location.

Score: /8

سوالات متداول (8)

Use 's' for accompaniment (with someone/something). Do not use it for tools or transport.

Use -om for hard consonants and -em for soft consonants.

No, it's also for transport, accompaniment, and specific verbs.

Because transport doesn't take 's'. It's just 'Idem autom'.

Rarely, in specific literary contexts, but not in daily speech.

Use 'i' to connect them: 'Pišem olovkom i perom'.

No, they have different functions, even if they look similar.

Yes, all nouns change their endings in the Instrumental case.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

برای تمرین رایگان ثبت‌نام کنید

In Other Languages

German moderate

mit + Dativ

Croatian uses case endings; German uses prepositions.

French low

avec + Noun

French relies on prepositions; Croatian relies on inflections.

Spanish low

con + Noun

Spanish uses prepositions; Croatian uses case endings.

Japanese moderate

Noun + de

Japanese uses particles; Croatian uses case endings.

Arabic moderate

bi + Noun

Arabic uses a prefix; Croatian uses a suffix.

Chinese low

yòng + Noun

Chinese uses a verb; Croatian uses a case ending.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Expressing 'With' (S kim?)
Next
Instrumental for Time and Place (e.g., ljeti, putem)

Related Grammar Rules

B2

Prepositions Governing Dative and Locative (e.g., pri, k)
A1

Prepositions with Genitive (Origin & Separation)
A2

Using Locative to Express 'About' or 'On'
B1

Prepositions Expressing Concession (unatoč, usprkos)
B2

Omitting Prepositions with Certain Nouns/Verbs
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