Means and Transport

Level 3

Idem autobusom. Pišem olovkom. The instrumental alone says how or with what.

How It Works

MeansInstrumentalExample
vozvozomPutujem vozom u Mostar.
autobusautobusomIdem autobusom na posao.
tramvajtramvajemIdem tramvajem u grad.
olovkaolovkomPišem olovkom.
karticakarticomPlaćam karticom.

The ending is -om after most nouns and -em after soft consonants such as j.

The same pattern gives tools, ways and body parts: jesti kašikom, rezati nožem, pokazati rukom.

Compare the two. Idem s Amirom means that Amir comes with you. Idem autobusom means that the bus is your way of travel. If you walk, you do not use the instrumental. Use idem pješke, which is a fixed phrase.

Examples (5)

  1. Putujem vozom u Mostar.

    I travel to Mostar by train.

    Voz becomes vozom.

  2. Idem autobusom na posao.

    I go to work by bus.

    No preposition is needed.

  3. Pišem olovkom.

    I write with a pencil.

    A tool in the instrumental.

  4. Plaćam karticom.

    I pay by card.

    Kartica becomes karticom.

  5. Idem tramvajem u grad.

    I take the tram into town.

    Tramvaj ends in j, so -em.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding s to the means of transport.

    Putujem s vozom u Mostar.
    Putujem vozom u Mostar.

    S means "together with". Means of transport take only the instrumental.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Means and TransportLevel 3

Learn This First

The instrumental marks the means.

Words in This Pattern

instrumentalvozautobustramvajolovkakartica