Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'sada', 'jučer', and 'sutra' to anchor your sentences in the present, past, or future.
- Sada (now) refers to the current moment: Sada učim hrvatski (I am studying Croatian now).
- Jučer (yesterday) refers to the day before today: Jučer sam radio (I worked yesterday).
- Sutra (tomorrow) refers to the day after today: Sutra putujem (I am traveling tomorrow).
Adverb Usage Table
| Adverb | Meaning | Tense Used | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sada
|
Now
|
Present
|
Sada učim.
|
|
Jučer
|
Yesterday
|
Past
|
Jučer sam učio.
|
|
Sutra
|
Tomorrow
|
Future/Present
|
Sutra ću učiti.
|
Meanings
These adverbs provide temporal context to a sentence, allowing the speaker to specify the timing of an action relative to the present moment.
Present
Indicates the current time or immediate action.
“Sada sam kod kuće.”
“Sada pijem kavu.”
Past
Indicates the day preceding today.
“Jučer je bio ponedjeljak.”
“Jučer sam kupio kruh.”
Future
Indicates the day following today.
“Sutra je praznik.”
“Sutra ću učiti.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Adverb + Verb
|
Sutra radim.
|
|
Negative
|
Adverb + Negative Verb
|
Jučer nisam radio.
|
|
Question
|
Adverb + Verb + li
|
Radiš li sutra?
|
|
Emphasis
|
Verb + Adverb
|
Radim sutra.
|
|
Past
|
Jučer + Past Tense
|
Jučer sam bio tamo.
|
|
Present
|
Sada + Present Tense
|
Sada sam ovdje.
|
|
Future
|
Sutra + Future Tense
|
Sutra ću biti tamo.
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
Trenutačno radim. (Work/Casual)
Sada radim. (Work/Casual)
Sad radim. (Work/Casual)
Sad šljakam. (Work/Casual)
Time Flow
Past
- Jučer Yesterday
Present
- Sada Now
Future
- Sutra Tomorrow
レベル別の例文
Sada učim.
I am studying now.
Jučer sam radio.
I worked yesterday.
Sutra putujem.
I am traveling tomorrow.
Sada je hladno.
It is cold now.
Jučer smo bili u kinu.
We were at the cinema yesterday.
Sutra ću kupiti kruh.
I will buy bread tomorrow.
Sada pišem zadaću.
I am writing homework now.
Jučer nije padala kiša.
It didn't rain yesterday.
Sutra se vidimo u deset sati.
We will see each other tomorrow at ten.
Jučer sam završio projekt.
I finished the project yesterday.
Sada je situacija puno bolja.
The situation is much better now.
Sutra ćemo razgovarati o tome.
We will talk about that tomorrow.
Jučer sam, nažalost, zaboravio na sastanak.
Yesterday, unfortunately, I forgot about the meeting.
Sutra bi trebalo biti sunčano.
It should be sunny tomorrow.
Sada kada razmislim, bilo je zabavno.
Now that I think about it, it was fun.
Jučer je stigla pošiljka iz inozemstva.
The shipment from abroad arrived yesterday.
Sada, više nego ikad, trebamo biti ujedinjeni.
Now, more than ever, we need to be united.
Jučer je donesena odluka o promjeni plana.
The decision to change the plan was made yesterday.
Sutra će se održati svečana ceremonija.
The formal ceremony will be held tomorrow.
Sada se čini kao da je to bilo davno.
It seems like it was a long time ago now.
Jučer, u osvit dana, započeli smo putovanje.
Yesterday, at the break of dawn, we began our journey.
Sutrašnjica je neizvjesna, ali sada moramo djelovati.
Tomorrow is uncertain, but now we must act.
Sada, u ovom trenutku, sve se mijenja.
Now, at this very moment, everything is changing.
Jučer je obilježilo prekretnicu u našoj povijesti.
Yesterday marked a turning point in our history.
間違えやすい
Both mean 'now', but 'trenutačno' is more formal.
Learners mix up 'yesterday' and 'day before yesterday'.
Learners mix up 'tomorrow' and 'day after tomorrow'.
よくある間違い
Jučer idem.
Jučer sam išao.
Sutra sam radio.
Sutra ću raditi.
Sada sam radio.
Sada radim.
Jučer sutra sam bio.
Jučer sam bio.
Sutra je bio lijep dan.
Sutra će biti lijep dan.
Jučer radim.
Jučer sam radio.
Sada ću učiti.
Sada učim.
Jučer sam vidio njega.
Jučer sam ga vidio.
Sutra bi bilo dobro.
Sutra će biti dobro.
Sada sam bio u gradu.
Sada sam u gradu.
Jučer sam imao završiti.
Jučer sam morao završiti.
Sutra se sastajemo.
Sutra se sastajemo (or) Sutra ćemo se sastati.
Sada je bilo važno.
Sada je važno.
文型パターン
Sada ___.
Jučer sam ___.
Sutra ću ___.
___ je bilo jučer.
Real World Usage
Sada sam u busu.
Jučer sam završio fakultet.
Sutra imam let u 8.
Sada sam gladan.
Jučer je bilo super!
Sutra ću Vam poslati dokumente.
Placement
Tense Match
Clitics
Regional variation
Smart Tips
Always check if you used the past tense.
Use 'sutra' with the future tense.
Use 'sad' for speed.
Move the adverb to the start.
発音
Sada
Stress on the first syllable.
Jučer
Stress on the first syllable.
Sutra
Stress on the first syllable.
Statement
Sutra radim ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Question
Radiš li sutra? ↗
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
暗記しよう
記憶術
S-J-S: Sada (Now), Jučer (Past), Sutra (Future). Think of 'S' for 'Sada' (Start now), 'J' for 'Jučer' (Just finished), 'S' for 'Sutra' (Soon).
視覚的連想
Imagine a clock. 'Sada' is the ticking hand. 'Jučer' is the shadow behind the clock. 'Sutra' is the light shining in front of the clock.
Rhyme
Sada je sada, jučer je prošlo, sutra će doći, sve je dobro pošlo.
Story
I am eating 'sada'. I ate 'jučer'. I will eat 'sutra'. My stomach is always busy!
Word Web
チャレンジ
Write three sentences about your day using these three words.
文化メモ
Often use 'sad' instead of 'sada'.
Very standard usage, clear pronunciation.
Casual speech often drops the final vowel in 'sad'.
These are Proto-Slavic roots that have remained remarkably stable.
会話のきっかけ
Što radiš sada?
Ideš li sutra u školu?
Kako si se osjećao jučer?
Smatraš li da je sada pravo vrijeme za promjene?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
___ sam bio u kinu.
Sutra ___ u školu.
Find and fix the mistake:
Jučer idem u školu.
radim / sada / ja
Sutra sam radio.
A: Što radiš? B: ___ učim.
Sada radim.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
練習問題
8 exercises___ sam bio u kinu.
Sutra ___ u školu.
Find and fix the mistake:
Jučer idem u školu.
radim / sada / ja
Sutra sam radio.
A: Što radiš? B: ___ učim.
Sada radim.
Jučer -> ?
Score: /8
よくある質問 (8)
Yes, it's common for emphasis.
Yes, 'sad' is just a shorter version.
No, they are indeclinable.
No, that is grammatically incorrect.
'Trenutačno' is more formal.
Yes, 'prekjučer' for two days ago.
Only if describing a planned future event.
They provide essential time context.
Scaffolded Practice
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2
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ahora, ayer, mañana
Spanish has more complex verb conjugations.
jetzt, gestern, morgen
German requires the verb in the second position.
maintenant, hier, demain
French uses more auxiliary verbs for past/future.
ima, kinou, ashita
Japanese verb conjugation is at the very end.
al-aan, ams, ghadan
Arabic has a different root system for time.
xiànzài, zuótiān, míngtiān
Chinese verbs do not conjugate.
