Instrumental Adjective Agreement
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
When you use the instrumental case (with someone/something), your adjectives must change their endings to match the noun's new case.
- Masculine/Neuter singular: add -im (e.g., s dobrim prijateljem).
- Feminine singular: add -om (e.g., s dobrom prijateljicom).
- Plural (all genders): add -im (e.g., s dobrim ljudima).
Instrumental Adjective Endings
| Gender/Number | Nominative | Instrumental | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Masc. Sing.
|
novi
|
-im (novim)
|
s novim autom
|
|
Neut. Sing.
|
novo
|
-im (novim)
|
s novim selom
|
|
Fem. Sing.
|
nova
|
-om (novom)
|
s novom kućom
|
|
Plural (all)
|
novi/e/a
|
-im (novim)
|
s novim ljudima
|
Meanings
The instrumental case indicates accompaniment (with) or the instrument used to perform an action. Adjectives must agree with the noun's gender and number in this case.
Accompaniment
Doing something with someone or something.
“Pijem kavu s dragom prijateljicom.”
“Šećem sa svojim malim psom.”
Instrument/Means
Using an object to perform an action.
“Pišem crvenom olovkom.”
“Putujem brzim vlakom.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
s + Adj(-im/-om) + Noun
|
s dobrim prijateljem
|
|
Negative
|
ne + s + Adj(-im/-om) + Noun
|
ne idem s dobrim prijateljem
|
|
Question
|
Ideš li s + Adj(-im/-om) + Noun?
|
Ideš li s dobrim prijateljem?
|
|
Instrument
|
Adj(-im/-om) + Noun
|
Pišem crnom olovkom
|
|
Plural
|
s + Adj(-im) + Noun(-ima)
|
s dobrim ljudima
|
|
Pronoun
|
s + mojim + Noun
|
s mojim bratom
|
طیف رسمیت
Idem s cijenjenim kolegom. (Social)
Idem s dobrim prijateljem. (Social)
Idem s frendom. (Social)
Idem s ekipom. (Social)
Instrumental Case Map
Accompaniment
- s prijateljem with a friend
Means
- olovkom with a pen
مثالها بر اساس سطح
Idem s dobrim prijateljem.
I am going with a good friend.
Pijem s dragom mamom.
I am drinking with dear mom.
Radim s novim autom.
I am working with a new car.
Šećem s malim psom.
I am walking with a small dog.
Pišem crvenom olovkom.
I am writing with a red pen.
Putujem brzim vlakom.
I am traveling by fast train.
Razgovaram s pametnim studentom.
I am talking with a smart student.
Sretan sam s novim poslom.
I am happy with the new job.
Surađujem s poznatim umjetnicima.
I am collaborating with famous artists.
Režem kruh oštrim nožem.
I am cutting bread with a sharp knife.
Oduševljen sam ovom lijepom pjesmom.
I am thrilled with this beautiful song.
Družim se s dragim ljudima.
I am hanging out with dear people.
Upravljam složenim sustavima.
I am managing complex systems.
Bavim se zahtjevnim sportom.
I am engaged in a demanding sport.
Razgovarali smo o važnim temama.
We talked about important topics.
Ponosim se svojim velikim uspjehom.
I am proud of my big success.
Služio se tajnim metodama.
He used secret methods.
Očarana je prekrasnim krajolikom.
She is enchanted by the beautiful landscape.
Suočio se s teškim izazovima.
He faced difficult challenges.
Upotrijebio je posebnim alatom.
He used a special tool.
Govorio je tihim, smirenim glasom.
He spoke with a quiet, calm voice.
Borio se nepravednim sustavom.
He fought against an unjust system.
Odisala je nekom posebnom energijom.
She exuded a special energy.
Sve je riješio mirnim putem.
He solved everything in a peaceful way.
بهراحتی اشتباه گرفته میشود
Both involve case endings.
اشتباهات رایج
s dobar prijatelj
s dobrim prijateljem
s lijepa žena
s lijepom ženom
s novi auto
s novim autom
s moji prijatelji
s mojim prijateljima
pišem s olovka
pišem olovkom
putujem s brzi vlak
putujem brzim vlakom
s pametna studentica
s pametnom studenticom
s sa prijateljem
s prijateljem
s dobrim ljudima
s dobrim ljudima
s velikim problemima
s velikim problemima
s visokim standarde
s visokim standardom
s novim metodama
s novim metodama
s jakim vjetrovima
s jakim vjetrovima
الگوهای جملهسازی
Idem s ___ ___.
Real World Usage
Idem s frendom!
Kava s hladnim mlijekom.
Putujem brzim vlakom.
Radim s modernim alatima.
Sretan s novim uspjehom!
Pizza s dodatnim sirom.
Check the gender
Don't forget the adjective
Plural is easy
Coffee culture
Smart Tips
Immediately think 'instrumental case'.
Use instrumental without 's'.
Always use -im for adjectives.
Use -om for adjectives.
تلفظ
S vs SA
Use 'sa' before words starting with 's', 'z', 'š', 'ž' or clusters.
Statement
Idem s prijateljem. ↘
Neutral declarative.
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Remember: 'M' for Masculine/Neuter/Plural (-im) and 'O' for feminine (-om).
تداعی تصویری
Imagine a man (M) holding a large 'IM' sign, and a woman (O) holding a large 'OM' sign.
Rhyme
For men and things, use -im to sing; for ladies fair, -om is the air.
Story
I went to the park with my new friend (s novim prijateljem). We sat on a bench and wrote with a blue pen (plavom olovkom). We were happy with our new day (novim danom).
شبکه واژگان
چالش
Write 3 sentences about what you do with your friends using the instrumental case.
نکات فرهنگی
The instrumental case is used heavily in coffee culture, e.g., 'kava s mlijekom'.
Derived from Proto-Slavic instrumental case.
شروعکنندههای مکالمه
S kim ideš na kavu?
Kojim prijevoznim sredstvom putuješ?
موضوعات نگارش
اشتباهات رایج
Test Yourself
Idem s ___ (novi) prijateljem.
Pišem ___ (crna) olovkom.
Find and fix the mistake:
Sretan sam s novi posao.
To je dobar prijatelj. (Idem s...)
A: S kim ideš? B: Idem s ___ (moja) sestrom.
s / prijateljima / dobrim / idem
Which takes -om?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
تمرینهای عملی
8 exercisesIdem s ___ (novi) prijateljem.
Pišem ___ (crna) olovkom.
Find and fix the mistake:
Sretan sam s novi posao.
To je dobar prijatelj. (Idem s...)
A: S kim ideš? B: Idem s ___ (moja) sestrom.
s / prijateljima / dobrim / idem
Which takes -om?
Match: novi -> ?
Score: /8
سوالات متداول (8)
It's for pronunciation. Use 'sa' before words starting with 's', 'z', 'š', 'ž' or clusters.
No, only for accompaniment. For instruments, you don't use 's'.
Yes, for all genders in the instrumental case.
Use -om.
No, that's usually locative or accusative.
Yes, it is standard in all registers.
That's the noun's instrumental ending.
Try describing your daily routine with tools and friends.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
mit + Dativ
Croatian uses a specific case ending for the noun and adjective.
avec + noun
Croatian inflects the noun and adjective.
con + noun
Croatian requires case agreement.
noun + de
Croatian uses case endings.
ma'a + noun
Croatian inflects.
gen + noun
Croatian uses inflection.
