Instrumental Case for Means and Company (S kim? Čime?)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the Instrumental case to show 'with whom' (company) or 'with what' (means) you are doing something.
- Use 's' + Instrumental for company: 'Idem s prijateljem' (I go with a friend).
- Use Instrumental alone for means: 'Pišem olovkom' (I write with a pencil).
- Masculine/Neuter nouns usually end in '-om' or '-em' in the Instrumental singular.
Instrumental Singular Endings
| Gender | Ending (Consonant) | Ending (Vowel) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Masculine
|
-om
|
-em
|
stol -> stolom
|
|
Neuter
|
-om
|
-em
|
selo -> selom
|
|
Feminine
|
-om
|
-om
|
kava -> kavom
|
Meanings
The Instrumental case indicates the instrument or means by which an action is performed, or the person/object accompanying the subject.
Means/Instrument
The tool or method used to perform an action.
“Režem kruh nožem.”
“Idem na posao biciklom.”
Company
The person or thing accompanying the subject.
“Šetam s psom.”
“Razgovaram s majkom.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative (Means)
|
Noun + -om/-em
|
Pišem olovkom.
|
|
Affirmative (Company)
|
s + Noun-Instrumental
|
Idem s prijateljem.
|
|
Negative (Means)
|
Ne + Verb + Noun-Instrumental
|
Ne pišem olovkom.
|
|
Negative (Company)
|
Ne + Verb + s + Noun-Instrumental
|
Ne idem s prijateljem.
|
|
Question (Means)
|
Čime + Verb?
|
Čime pišeš?
|
|
Question (Company)
|
S kim + Verb?
|
S kim ideš?
|
Spectre de formalité
Idem s prijateljem. (Social)
Idem s prijateljem. (Social)
Idem s frendom. (Social)
Idem s ekipom. (Social)
Instrumental Case Usage
Means
- vlakom by train
- nožem with a knife
Company
- s prijateljem with a friend
- s mamom with mom
Exemples par niveau
Idem s prijateljem.
I am going with a friend.
Pišem olovkom.
I am writing with a pencil.
Putujem vlakom.
I am traveling by train.
Pijem kavu s mlijekom.
I am drinking coffee with milk.
Razgovaram s profesorom.
I am talking with the professor.
Idem na posao biciklom.
I go to work by bike.
Bavim se sportom.
I am involved in sports.
Režem kruh nožem.
I am cutting bread with a knife.
Upravljam ovim projektom.
I am managing this project.
Služim se računalom.
I am using a computer.
Šećem sa psom u parku.
I am walking with the dog in the park.
Plaćam karticom.
I am paying with a card.
Oduševljen sam ovim filmom.
I am thrilled with this movie.
Putujemo s obitelji u inozemstvo.
We are traveling with family abroad.
On se bavi politikom.
He is involved in politics.
Sve je prekriveno snijegom.
Everything is covered with snow.
Smatram ga svojim prijateljem.
I consider him my friend.
Vrijeme prolazi brzinom svjetlosti.
Time passes with the speed of light.
Zadovoljan sam postignutim rezultatom.
I am satisfied with the achieved result.
Sve je prošlo s puno uspjeha.
Everything went with a lot of success.
Pjesnik se služi metaforom.
The poet uses a metaphor.
Svi su bili obučeni s ukusom.
Everyone was dressed with taste.
Upravljao je državom s mudrošću.
He managed the state with wisdom.
Sve je bilo popraćeno glazbom.
Everything was accompanied by music.
Facile à confondre
Learners mix up the tool (Instrumental) with the object (Accusative).
Learners sometimes use Genitive for 'with'.
Learners confuse the endings.
Erreurs courantes
Idem s prijatelj.
Idem s prijateljem.
Pišem olovka.
Pišem olovkom.
S prijatelj.
S prijateljem.
Idem vlak.
Idem vlakom.
S mama.
S mamom.
Sa prijateljem.
S prijateljem.
Bavim se sport.
Bavim se sportom.
S šefom.
Sa šefom.
Upravljam projekt.
Upravljam projektom.
S psom.
Sa psom.
Smatram ga prijatelj.
Smatram ga prijateljem.
Postignuto s uspjeh.
Postignuto s uspjehom.
Svi su bili s ukus.
Svi su bili s ukusom.
Structures de phrases
Idem s ___.
Putujem ___.
Bavim se ___.
Služim se ___.
Real World Usage
Idem s ekipom na kavu.
Služim se računalom.
Putujem vlakom.
Plaćam karticom.
Uživam s prijateljima.
Razgovaram s profesorom.
The 's' rule
Don't forget the ending
Phonetic 'sa'
Slang usage
Smart Tips
Check if it's company or means. If company, use 's' + Instrumental.
Use the Instrumental case without 's'.
Always follow with the Instrumental case.
Always follow with the Instrumental case.
Prononciation
The 'sa' rule
Use 'sa' before words starting with s, z, š, ž.
Question intonation
S kim ideš? ↗
Rising pitch at the end for questions.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of the Instrumental case as the 'Tool-kit' case. If you need a tool or a buddy to get the job done, you need the Instrumental.
Association visuelle
Imagine a person holding a giant pen (instrument) while walking with a robot friend (company). The pen has '-om' written on it.
Rhyme
With a friend or with a tool, Instrumental is the rule!
Story
Ivan wanted to go to the park. He took his bike (biciklom) and called his friend (s prijateljem). They ate ice cream with a spoon (žlicom).
Word Web
Défi
For the next 5 minutes, describe everything you touch using the Instrumental case (e.g., 'Tipkam tipkovnicom').
Notes culturelles
Using 'frendom' (from English 'friend') is very common in youth slang.
In some dialects, the Instrumental is often replaced by other constructions, but standard Croatian remains the norm.
The usage is very standard and follows the rules strictly.
The Instrumental case is a Proto-Indo-European inheritance, originally denoting accompaniment and means.
Amorces de conversation
S kim ideš na kavu?
Čime putuješ na posao?
Čime se baviš u slobodno vrijeme?
Smatraš li ga svojim prijateljem?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
Idem s ___ (prijatelj).
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Idem vlak.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I am paying with a card.
Answer starts with: Pla...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Idem ___ psom.
Bavim se ___ (sport).
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesIdem s ___ (prijatelj).
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Idem vlak.
s / idem / prijateljem / ja
I am paying with a card.
Stol -> ?
Idem ___ psom.
Bavim se ___ (sport).
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Use 'sa' before words starting with s, z, š, ž to make pronunciation easier.
No, only when indicating company. For means, you don't use a preposition.
Usually by the ending in the Nominative case.
Sometimes, but it's more common for means and company.
No, use the Locative case for locations.
Words ending in soft consonants use -em.
Yes, it is essential in all registers.
You will be understood, but it will sound incorrect to native speakers.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Mit + Dative
German uses Dative, Croatian uses Instrumental.
Avec + Noun
French doesn't change the noun ending.
Con + Noun
Spanish doesn't change the noun ending.
Noun + de
Japanese uses a particle, Croatian uses a case ending.
Bi + Noun
Arabic uses a prefix, Croatian uses a case ending.
Yong + Noun
Chinese uses a verb, Croatian uses a case.
