Passive Sentences and Agents in Croatian: Usage and Nuances
The use of passive sentences in Croatian can be intricate, particularly when it comes to denoting the actors of passive sentences. This article explores the correct usage of passive constructions, the instrumental case, reflexive constructions, and several examples to help you understand the nuances of the language.
The Instrumental Case and Passive Agents
In Croatian, the correct way to denote the agent in passive sentences is often through the instrumental case, rather than using the preposition "u". For instance, the sentence: Ja sam sretna kada si tu kada se vidim u tvome oku. means "I am happy when you are here when I see myself in your eye," reflecting the reflexive nature of self-reflection rather than someone else seeing you.
Here, 'u' does not correctly denote the agent; instead, the instrumental case should be used: Ja sam sretna kada si tu kada me tvome oko vidi.
The instrumental case is used to show the means by which an action is performed. For example:
Doao sam vozom kamionom avionom brodom. Piem perom penkalom olovkom. Ubio sam ga noem otrovom, meem pistolom.In these examples, vozom, kamionom, avionom, brodom, perom, penkalom, olovkom, noem, otrovo, and mekilom indicate the agent through the instrumental case.
True Passive and Reflexive Constructions
Croatian has two main types of passive constructions:
The True Passive Construction: Composed of the verb 'be' and the passive participle. These constructions denote a completed process or its result. Examples include:
Ova kua je sagraena 1992. “This house was built in 1992” The construction was completed in 1992. Ova kua je prodana “This house has been sold” Not for sale anymore.The Reflexive Construction: Involving the reflexive pronoun 'se' with the passive meaning. These are used more commonly for ongoing processes:
Ove kue su se tada jo gradile “These houses were still being built then.” Juha se skuhala “The soup has been cooked” or “is cooked” It is ready to eat now. Juha je skuhana “The soup has been cooked” The construction is ready to eat now.Note that the agent is never expressed with reflexive constructions, as they focus on the ongoing nature of the action rather than the completion.
Agent Expression in Passive Constructions
In English, passive constructions often express the agent explicitly, e.g., "He was hit by a car," "That book was written by my friend," or "The construction will be funded by local authorities." However, in Croatian, the complex morphology of the language allows for the agent to be implied rather than stated. For example:
Moj prijatelj je sagradio ovu kua. My friend built this house. Ovu kua je sagradio moj prijatelj. This house was built by my friend. Ova kua je sagradila mog prijatelja. This house built my friend (which makes no sense).In the first two examples, the focus is shifted between the subject and the object, demonstrating how the agent or object can be emphasized without making the sentence passive or changing its meaning.
For When You Are Seen by Your Eye
When you want to express the idea of being seen by your eye, the active construction is the way to go. For example:
Ja sam sretna kada si tu kada me tvoje oko vidi. - I am happy when you are here, when your eye sees me. Kada sam viena od strane tvoga oka. - When I am seen by your eye (though this sounds somewhat awkward). Ja sam sretna kada se vidim. - I am happy when I see myself (can also mean I am happy when I am visible). Ja sam sretna kada sam viena. - I am happy when I am seen (meaning when people see me).The passive construction in the last two sentences sounds more natural and is a more common way to express the idea in Croatian.
Conclusion
Understanding the nuances of passive constructions in Croatian can significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in this language. By mastering the use of the instrumental case, true passive, reflexive construction, and the concept of implied agents, you can convey your thoughts precisely and fluently.