za + Accusative: Time

Time Needed or Time from Now

Level 4

Za can measure completion time or locate an event ahead.

How It Works

With a completed action, napisala je pismo za deset minuta measures the time needed to finish. With an upcoming departure, krećemo za deset minuta locates departure ten minutes ahead.

The phrase is an accusative time construction, although many numeral expressions do not display a distinct accusative ending on every word. Compare the visible form za jednu minutu.

A bare duration such as čitala sam sat vremena measures how long an activity lasted. Adding za can introduce a different relationship, so do not translate English for with za automatically.

Examples (3)

  1. Krećemo za deset minuta.

    We are leaving in ten minutes.

    The departure is ten minutes from now.

  2. Napisala je pismo za pola sata.

    She wrote the letter in half an hour.

    The phrase measures the time needed for completion.

  3. Vratit ću se za jednu minutu.

    I will be back in one minute.

    Jednu minutu is an overt accusative time phrase.

How It Connects

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

za + Accusative: TimeLevel 4Time Needed or Time from Now

Learn This First

Time-span accusatives combine with aspect to distinguish completion time from future distance.

Words in This Pattern