Instrumental Without s

Tools and Transport

Level 2

Croatian can name the means of an action with a bare instrumental noun. Pišem olovkom means I write with a pencil.

How It Works

Pišem olovkom. names the tool. Putujem vlakom. names the means of transport. The instrumental ending makes an additional means preposition unnecessary in these standard expressions.

Compare a companion: Putujem s prijateljem. Here s is appropriate because the friend accompanies the traveller. A single sentence can contain both: Putujem vlakom s prijateljem.

Do not extend the tool rule to every verb and noun combination. Some verbs take an instrumental complement for lexical reasons, and other relations need a preposition. Learn the means frame with clear tools and transport first.

Examples (4)

  1. Pišem olovkom.

    I am writing with a pencil.

    Olovkom names the tool without s.

  2. Putujem vlakom.

    I am travelling by train.

    Vlakom names the means of transport.

  3. Režem kruh nožem.

    I am cutting bread with a knife.

    Nožem is an instrumental tool.

  4. Putujem vlakom s prijateljem.

    I am travelling by train with a friend.

    The sentence contrasts means and accompaniment.

How It Connects

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

Instrumental Without sLevel 2Tools and Transport

Learn This First

The instrumental forms support the contrast between accompaniment and means.