How It Works

The adverb natolik is an invariable word that intensifies a property, state, or action. It is typically followed by a result clause introduced by že (for direct results) or a conjugated form of aby (abych, abys, aby, abychom, abyste) + past participle (l-tvar) (to express capacity or 'enough to').

1. What it modifies

Adjectives: Byl natolik rozumný, že... (He was reasonable enough that...)
Adverbs: Připravil se natolik dobře, že... (He prepared well enough that...)
Verbs: Změnil se natolik, že... (He changed to such an extent that...)

2. The Nuance of Threshold (že vs. aby vs. až)
While often translated as 'so ... that', natolik inherently carries a nuance of sufficiency or measure. It establishes a specific threshold. Use že to state a direct result or consequence (Byl natolik unavený, že usnul. = He was so tired that he fell asleep). Use aby to express capacity or sufficiency ('enough to'), which can apply to both potential and fully realized events (Nebyl jsem natolik unavený, abych usnul. = I wasn't tired enough to fall asleep; Byl natolik rozumný, aby nic neříkal. = He was reasonable enough to say nothing). Note that aby must be conjugated to match the subject of the result clause, and the past participle must agree with the subject in gender and number (e.g., Nebyla jsem natolik unavená, abych usnula.). Additionally, natolik is frequently followed by the conjunction až as a stylistic alternative to že to emphasize an extreme result or consequence (e.g., Byl natolik unavený, až usnul.).

3. The "na to" Contamination Warning
Learners (and sometimes even native speakers) occasionally mix natolik with the phrase na to, creating sentences like *Byl natolik rozumný na to, aby nic neříkal. This is a stylistic error known as contamination (křížení vazeb). You should either use natolik, aby (Byl natolik rozumný, aby nic neříkal.) or use the word dost with the na to bridge: dost na to, aby (Byl dost rozumný na to, aby nic neříkal.). Do not combine them.

4. The Infinitive Trap (Crucial Warning)
English speakers often try to translate 'enough to' using an infinitive (e.g., *Byl natolik rozumný neříkat nic). This is strictly ungrammatical in Czech. You must always use a conjugated form of aby + past participle (e.g., Byl natolik rozumný, aby nic neříkal.).

5. Clitic Word Order with aby
When using aby in the result clause, remember the strict rules for second-position clitics. If the result clause contains a reflexive pronoun (like se or si) or a short object pronoun (like ho, mu, mi), it must immediately follow the conjugated form of aby. For example: Nebyl natolik unavený, aby se mu chtělo spát. (He wasn't tired enough to want to sleep.)

6. Mandatory Punctuation
In Czech, a comma is strictly required before the result clause introduced by že, aby, or až. Unlike in English, where punctuation before 'that' or 'enough to' is often omitted, omitting the comma in Czech is a grammatical error.

7. Standalone Usage Restriction
A common misconception is that natolik is just a formal synonym for tak. This is inaccurate. You can use tak as a standalone exclamation (To je tak drahé! = It's so expensive!), but you cannot say *To je natolik drahé! unless you complete the thought with a result clause, or the result is logically implied by the context (e.g., Zase natolik drahé to není. = It's not that expensive [to warrant such a reaction]).

8. Orthography and Nouns
Do not confuse the single word natolik with the prepositional phrase na tolik (for so many/much), which is used with quantifiable nouns (e.g., Nemáme místo na tolik balíků.). Furthermore, natolik cannot quantify nouns directly; you must use tolik (e.g., Mám tolik práce, not *Mám natolik práce).

9. Correlative Pair
You will also encounter the correlative pair nakolik ... natolik (to the extent that ... to that extent), which is used to show a direct proportion between two situations.

10. Register and Spoken Equivalents
The word natolik is slightly formal. In everyday spoken Czech, native speakers frequently replace it with tak when modifying adjectives or adverbs (e.g., Byl tak unavený, že... instead of Byl natolik unavený, že...), or with tolik or do té míry when modifying verbs.

Examples (6)

Byl natolik rozumný, že nenaléhal.
He was reasonable enough that he didn't insist.
Word by Word: He-was to-such-extent reasonable, that he-not-insisted.
Modifying an adjective to show the threshold of reasonability required to produce the realized result.
Uzdravila se natolik, že mohla chodit.
She recovered enough that she could walk.
Word by Word: She-recovered herself to-such-extent, that she-could walk.
Modifying a verb to indicate the extent of recovery.
Situace se zhoršila natolik, že museli odejít.
The situation worsened to such an extent that they had to leave.
Word by Word: Situation itself worsened to-such-extent, that they-had-to leave.
A highly frequent, natural usage in both formal and casual Standard Czech.
Tento problém je natolik složitý, že ho nevyřešíme za jeden den.
This problem is so complex that we won't solve it in one day.
Word by Word: This problem is to-such-extent complex, that him we-will-not-solve in one day.
Here, 'natolik' emphasizes the proportion of complexity that prevents a quick solution.
Nebyl natolik unavený, aby hned usnul.
He wasn't tired enough to fall asleep immediately.
Word by Word: He-was-not to-such-extent tired, so-that immediately he-fell-asleep.
Using 'aby' instead of 'že' expresses a potential result or threshold, translating naturally to 'enough to'.
Je natolik drzý, aby to udělal.
He is brazen enough to do it.
Word by Word: He-is to-such-extent brazen, so-that-he it did.
A positive declarative sentence using 'aby' to show that the subject possesses the capacity or potential to reach the threshold.

Common Mistakes

Writing the adverb as two words ('na tolik') in a result clause.
Byl na tolik odvážný, že řekl pravdu.
Byl natolik odvážný, že řekl pravdu.
When expressing 'to such an extent', it is written as one word (natolik). The two-word phrase 'na tolik' means 'for so many/much' and is used with quantifiable nouns.
Using 'natolik' directly with nouns to mean 'so much/many'.
Mám natolik práce, že nevím, co dřív.
Mám tolik práce, že nevím, co dřív.
'Natolik' modifies adjectives, adverbs, or verbs. To quantify nouns, you must use 'tolik' (so much/many).
Using an infinitive after 'natolik' to translate the English 'enough to'.
Byl natolik rozumný neříkat nic.
Byl natolik rozumný, aby nic neříkal.
In Czech, it is strictly ungrammatical to follow 'natolik' with an infinitive. To express 'enough to do something', you must use a subordinate clause introduced by 'aby' followed by the past participle.

How It Connects

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

natolik ... žeLevel 6Degree-result Natolik Že

Learn This First

To learn the 'natolik ... že' construction, learners must first be comfortable with the basic subordinating conjunction 'že' used to introduce clauses. Since 'natolik' often intensifies an adjective or adverb to express a degree that leads to a specific result, knowledge of predicate adjective agreement and basic sentence structure (SVO) is essential. Familiarity with simpler causal conjunctions like 'protože' helps the learner grasp the logic of resultative clauses.

Words in This Pattern

natolik