nástroji

Nástroj is a masculine Czech noun meaning tool, instrument, or device. The form nástroji is a singular, case-specific form of nástroj that does not stand alone as a separate lexeme. It is used primarily as the dative singular and the locative singular, depending on the syntactic context.

In the singular, the full paradigm of nástroj shows that nástroji is the dative singular (to/for the tool) and also the locative singular (after prepositions that require the locative, such as o or v). The instrumental singular form is nástrojem, and the other singular cases are nástroj (nominative and accusative) and nástroje (genitive). In plural, nástroje is the nominative/accusative, with corresponding plural forms in other cases (e.g., nástrojů, nástrojům).

Usage notes: nástroji appears most often in phrases governed by a preposition that requires the locative, for example o nástroji (about the tool) or v nástroji (in the tool). This form also appears in contexts where the indirect object relationship is expressed, i.e., the dative singular, though such constructions are less common in everyday speech and depend on the surrounding verb or preposition.

Examples:

- Hovořili jsme o nástroji. (We talked about the tool.)

- V nástroji se nacházejí součástky. (The tool contains components.)

Etymology and related forms: nástroj comes from Proto-Slavic roots meaning instrument. Related forms include nástroje (plural nominative/accusative) and nástrojem (instrumental singular). The term is widely used across fields such as crafts, science, music, and everyday language.

See also: nástroj, nástroje, nástrojem.

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