■ 4.5 Starý x starší, tlustý x silnější
When we describe people we try not to be offensive. This is why we don't say starý, buf we say starší ("older", elderly), we don't say tlustý, butw silnější ("stronger", stout, plump).
■ 4.6 The model of conjugation:-OVAT verbs
From the previous lessons you already know the -Á, -land -E * models of conjugation. Here you can see the last model of conjugation: so called -i verbs, represented by the verb pracovat to work. All the verbs ending in -ovať are conjugated like this.
	-OVATverbs
	pracovat (to work)
já	pracuju/pracuji1
ty	pracuješ
on, ona, to	pracuje
my	pracujeme
vy	pracujete
oni	pracujou/pracují'
' The forms pracuji, pracují are used in formal or written Czech.
'Note that many "international" verbs coming from Latin and Greek follow this model ofconjugation: sportovat, telefonovat, organizovat, komunikovat, diskutovat, analyzova protestovat,testovat...
■ 4.7 Subject (nominative singular) x object (accusative singular)
As you already know from lesson 3, the direct object is expressed with the accusative with its endings in Czech. You have learned that in this cas feminine changes its ending from the nominitive singular (černá káva x dám si černou kávu). In this lesson you'll learn that in the accusative sc masculine animate (that means people and animals) also changes its ending. Compare these sentences:
Můj rati je mladší. (My brother is younger.) x Mám mladší o bratra. (I have a younger brother.) Můj pes je velký. (My dog is big.) x Mám velkého psa. (I have a big dog.)
In the first sentences mladší and bratr and velký and pes are in the nominative, in the second sentences they are in the accusative. Look aga paragraph 3.3 on page 21 dealing with the accusative. In this phase of study we are concentrating on practising and mastering the 1st decler group of nouns.
■ 4.8 Czech habits, traditions and conventions Czech names
a) Czech Christian/first name (křestní jméno)
Like all Slavonic languages, Czech has a rich system of family and pet names. For example, Marie can be called Mařenka, Maruška, Majka, M Majda..., Jan can be called Jenda, Jeník, Jeníček, Honza, Honzíček... (from the German Hans) and Josef can be called Jožin, Pepa, Pe
Pepíček... (from the Italian Pepé). Note that many Czechs celebrate not only their birthday (narozeniny), but also their name day (svátek), is, the day when their name appear in the calendar. This tradition originated in the Catholic liturgical calendar in which each day is sacred to s saint or patron.
b) Czech surname/fast name (příjmení)
Czech last names can sometimes sound funny. You can come across slečna Zajíčková (Miss Bunny), paní Hrubá (Mrs. Rough), paní Slabá ( Weak), pan Beránek (Mr. Lamb), pan Mizera (Mr. Rascal), pan Polívka Mr. Soup) or pan Nohavica (Mr.Trouserleg). Some ofthe male last nc ending in -I are in fact the so-called -I form, with which we form the past tense. Pan Vyskočil is Mr. Jumped Out and pan Koukal Is the man stared, Mr. Stared. Naturally, paní Koukalová is the "Man-Who-Stared's" wife.