Zástupcami

Zástupcami is a Czech grammatical form that functions as the instrumental plural of the noun zástupce. Zástupce itself denotes a deputy, representative, substitute, or proxy—someone who stands in for another person or acts on behalf of an organization. In computing, the term zástupce is also used for a shortcut or link to a file or program, though this sense is separate from its person-based meaning.

Etymology and related forms: zástupce stems from the verb or root meaning to stand in for or to substitute, with a standard Czech feminine and masculine gender system. The word has parallel forms in related Slavic languages (for example, Polish zastępca, Slovak zástupca). The plural nominative is zástupci, while the instrumental plural takes the form zástupcami in standard Czech, a form used when the group of substitutes or representatives is the instrument or partner in a given action or when following a preposition that governs the instrumental case.

Usage: The primary sense of zástupce is a person who stands in for someone else in duties, decisions, or representation. It is common in political, administrative, corporate, and organizational contexts. The instrumental plural zástupcami appears in sentences that require the instrumental case and typically appears with prepositions such as se or s, or in constructions describing action performed with or by these substitutes. The term is masculine; feminine counterparts include zástupkyně (female deputy).

See also: zástupce, zástupkyně, zástupce ideální (in specific legal or organizational contexts), zastoupení.

Note: Czech grammar has intricate declension patterns; zástupci and zástupcemi are related forms used in different cases and numbers.