Questions & Answers about Místo aby bochník vykynul, dáme ho do trouby.
What does místo aby mean here?
Místo aby means instead of ..., rather than ..., or instead of letting ... happen.
In this sentence, it introduces a contrast between what should happen and what we do instead:
- Místo aby bochník vykynul = instead of the loaf rising
- dáme ho do trouby = we put it in the oven
A very common fuller version is místo toho, aby ..., but in everyday Czech místo aby ... is also normal.
Why is there aby after místo?
Aby introduces a subordinate clause, often with a meaning like so that, in order that, or in this pattern instead of ... happening.
Here, aby is needed because what follows is a whole clause:
- bochník vykynul = the loaf rose / would rise
So:
- místo bochníku would just be instead of the loaf
- místo aby bochník vykynul is instead of the loaf rising
In other words, aby helps turn the idea into instead of X happening.
Why is it vykynul? It looks like a past tense form.