A1 Collocation 중립

Imati psa

To have a dog

Phrase in 30 Seconds

This phrase describes the everyday reality of owning a dog, combining the verb 'imati' (to have) with the animate object 'psa'.

  • Means: To own or live with a pet dog.
  • Used in: Introductions, small talk, and discussing daily routines or family life.
  • Don't confuse: Use 'psa' (accusative), not 'pas' (nominative) after the verb 'imati'.
🏠 + 🐕 = Imati psa

Explanation at your level:

At this level, 'Imati psa' is a basic sentence. You learn the verb 'imati' (to have) and the noun 'pas' (dog). You must remember to add an 'a' to 'pas' to make it 'psa'. It is used to talk about your family and your home.
You can now use the phrase to describe your routine. For example, 'Imam psa i šetam ga svaki dan' (I have a dog and I walk him every day). You understand that 'imati' is followed by the accusative case for animate objects.
You can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of owning a pet. 'Imati psa je velika odgovornost, ali donosi puno radosti' (Having a dog is a big responsibility, but it brings much joy). You can use the phrase in more complex sentences with conjunctions.
You can use the phrase in debates about animal rights or urban living. You might discuss the challenges of 'imati psa u malom stanu' (having a dog in a small apartment) and use more specific vocabulary like 'pasmine' (breeds) or 'veterinarska njega' (veterinary care).
You analyze the phrase within the context of social trends. You can discuss how 'imati psa' reflects changing demographic patterns in Croatia, using advanced structures like 'Sve veći broj mladih odlučuje se imati psa umjesto zasnivanja obitelji' (An increasing number of young people choose to have a dog instead of starting a family).
At this level, you explore the linguistic nuances of animacy and the historical evolution of the word 'pas'. You can discuss the phrase's role in literature or its sociolinguistic implications in different Croatian dialects, comparing 'imati psa' with more archaic or regional terms like 'držati marvu'.

뜻

The state of owning a pet dog.

🌍

문화적 배경

In Zagreb, having a dog is a social ticket. People often meet in 'dog parks' or at 'nasip' (the Sava river embankment). It is very common to see dogs in cafes. Traditionally, dogs were for hunting or guarding. While this has changed, you might still see more working breeds in the hinterland (Zagora). Dogs are often kept in yards ('dvorište') rather than inside the house. The phrase 'imati psa' here might imply a guard dog for the property. There is a massive trend of 'udomljavanje' (adopting). Saying 'Imam psa iz azila' (I have a dog from a shelter) carries significant social prestige.

💡

The Animate Rule

Always remember that for living things (men and animals), the object ending is '-a'.

⚠️

Don't say 'Imam pas'

This is the most common beginner mistake. It sounds like 'I have dog' without the proper grammar.

뜻

The state of owning a pet dog.

💡

The Animate Rule

Always remember that for living things (men and animals), the object ending is '-a'.

⚠️

Don't say 'Imam pas'

This is the most common beginner mistake. It sounds like 'I have dog' without the proper grammar.

🎯

Use Diminutives

If you want to sound like a local in Zagreb, say 'Imam peseka'. It's much more friendly.

💬

Dog in the Cafe

If you see a dog in a cafe, it's polite to ask 'Smijem li ga pomaziti?' (May I pet him?) after saying you also have a dog.

셀프 테스트

Fill in the correct form of the word 'pas'.

Ja imam ____.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: psa

After the verb 'imati', the masculine animate noun 'pas' must be in the accusative case, which is 'psa'.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Select the correct sentence:

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Oni imaju psa.

'Oni' (they) requires the verb form 'imaju', and 'pas' must be in the accusative 'psa'.

Complete the dialogue.

Ana: Imate li kućnog ljubimca? Vi: Da, ____.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: imam psa

The natural response uses the conjugated verb 'imam' followed by the object 'psa'.

Match the phrase to the situation.

You are at a party and want to talk about your life.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Imam psa.

'Imam psa' is the standard way to share this personal fact.

🎉 점수: /4

시각 학습 자료

Animate vs Inanimate Accusative

Animate (Pas)
Imam psa I have a dog (Changes!)
Inanimate (Stol)
Imam stol I have a table (No change)

자주 묻는 질문

14 질문

No, in Croatian, 'Imam psa' already means 'I have a dog'. Using 'jedan' is only for emphasis.

You say 'Imam psicu'. The word for female dog is 'psica'.

You say 'Nemam psa'. Note that 'nemam' also takes the genitive/accusative 'psa'.

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.

Yes! 'Imam mačku' (I have a cat), 'Imam papigu' (I have a parrot).

The plural is 'Imam pse' (I have dogs).

The 'a' in 'pas' is 'nepostojano' (fleeting). It disappears when you add endings.

Many restaurants with terraces allow dogs, and some indoor ones too. Always look for the 'Pet Friendly' sticker.

Ask 'Imate li psa?' (formal/plural) or 'Imaš li psa?' (informal).

It is 'štene'. To say 'I have a puppy', you say 'Imam štene'.

Only in small talk. In a contract, you would see 'vlasnik psa'.

No, it means ownership. To say you are holding it, use 'držim psa'.

Many dogs are called 'Rex', 'Bobi', or 'Luna'.

It's better to say 'Živim sa psom' (I live with a dog).

관련 표현

🔗

Šetati psa

builds on

To walk the dog

🔗

Hraniti psa

builds on

To feed the dog

🔗

Udomiti psa

specialized form

To adopt a dog

🔗

Čuvati psa

similar

To look after a dog

🔗

Izgubiti psa

contrast

To lose a dog

🔗

Voljeti pse

similar

To love dogs

어디서 쓸까?

👋

Meeting a neighbor

Susjed: Dobar dan! Imate li psa?

Vi: Dobar dan! Da, imam malog psa.

neutral
📱

Dating app profile

Profil: Volim planinariti i imam psa.

informal
🏠

Apartment hunting

Najmoprimac: Je li u redu ako imam psa?

Vlasnik: Nažalost, ne primamo kućne ljubimce.

formal
🏥

At the vet

Veterinar: Koliko dugo imate psa?

Vlasnik: Imam psa već tri godine.

neutral
🧒

Talking to a child

Dijete: Mogu li i ja imati psa?

Roditelj: Možeš, kad budeš malo stariji.

informal
💼

Job interview (small talk)

Intervjuer: Što radite u slobodno vrijeme?

Kandidat: Volim šetati jer imam psa.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the 'a' in 'psa' as the 'a' in 'Active'—because a dog is an active, living thing, it needs that extra 'a'!

Visual Association

Imagine a person holding a leash. The leash is shaped like the letter 'a', connecting the person (the owner) to the dog (psa).

Rhyme

Imam psa, on sve zna! (I have a dog, he knows everything!)

Story

You walk into a Croatian cafe. You see a man with a dog. You want to be his friend. You say 'Imam psa' (I have a dog). He smiles, the dog wags its tail, and you are now part of the 'dog club'.

Word Web

paspsicaštenepovodacšetnjahrana za pseveterinarlajati

챌린지

Go to a local park or look at a photo of a dog and say out loud: 'Želim imati psa' or 'Imam psa'. Repeat 5 times focusing on the '-a' ending.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Tener un perro

Spanish uses articles; Croatian uses cases.

French high

Avoir un chien

French has no case marking on the noun 'chien'.

German high

Einen Hund haben

German changes the article; Croatian changes the noun ending.

Japanese low

犬を飼っている (Inu o katte iru)

Japanese uses a specific verb for 'keeping' animals.

Arabic moderate

عندي كلب (Indi kalb)

Arabic lacks a direct verb equivalent to 'imati'.

Chinese moderate

我有一只狗 (Wǒ yǒu yī zhǐ gǒu)

Chinese requires measure words/classifiers.

Korean low

개를 키워요 (Gae-reul ki-wo-yo)

The focus is on 'raising' rather than 'possessing'.

Portuguese high

Ter um cão

Portuguese uses the article 'um'.

Easily Confused

Imati psa 대 Biti pas

Learners might mix up 'to be' and 'to have'.

Remember: 'Imam' is for things you own; 'Sam' is for what you are.

Imati psa 대 Držati psa

Both mean 'to have/keep a dog'.

'Držati' often implies the physical location or the act of keeping them in a specific place (like a yard).

자주 묻는 질문 (14)

No, in Croatian, 'Imam psa' already means 'I have a dog'. Using 'jedan' is only for emphasis.

You say 'Imam psicu'. The word for female dog is 'psica'.

You say 'Nemam psa'. Note that 'nemam' also takes the genitive/accusative 'psa'.

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.

Yes! 'Imam mačku' (I have a cat), 'Imam papigu' (I have a parrot).

The plural is 'Imam pse' (I have dogs).

The 'a' in 'pas' is 'nepostojano' (fleeting). It disappears when you add endings.

Many restaurants with terraces allow dogs, and some indoor ones too. Always look for the 'Pet Friendly' sticker.

Ask 'Imate li psa?' (formal/plural) or 'Imaš li psa?' (informal).

It is 'štene'. To say 'I have a puppy', you say 'Imam štene'.

Only in small talk. In a contract, you would see 'vlasnik psa'.

No, it means ownership. To say you are holding it, use 'držim psa'.

Many dogs are called 'Rex', 'Bobi', or 'Luna'.

It's better to say 'Živim sa psom' (I live with a dog).

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