Questions & Answers about Pod dveřmi je průvan.
Why is dveřmi plural when English would normally say door in the singular?
Because Czech dveře is a plural-only noun. Even when English says door, Czech usually uses the grammatically plural word dveře.
So:
- dveře = a door / doors
- dveřmi = by/with/under the door, in the instrumental plural
This is normal Czech, not a special meaning. So pod dveřmi still means under the door, not necessarily under the doors.
What case is dveřmi, and why is it used after pod?
Dveřmi is instrumental plural.
The preposition pod can take different cases depending on meaning:
- pod + instrumental = location, under/below
- pod + accusative = movement to a position under something
Here the sentence describes a location, not movement, so Czech uses the instrumental:
- Pod dveřmi je průvan. = The draft is under the door / There is a draft under the door.
What would the sentence look like if there were movement under the door instead of location?