Questions & Answers about Bawełna, wełna i len są na stole.
Why is the verb są plural if bawełna, wełna, and len are singular words?
Because the sentence has a compound subject: bawełna, wełna i len = cotton, wool, and flax/linen.
Each noun is singular by itself, but together they form a plural subject, so Polish uses the plural verb są = are.
- bawełna jest = cotton is
- wełna jest = wool is
- len jest = flax is
- bawełna, wełna i len są = cotton, wool, and flax are
Why do we say na stole and not na stół?
Because after na with the meaning on in a static location, Polish uses the locative case.
So:
- stół = table (dictionary form, nominative)
- na stole = on the table (locative)
Compare:
- na stole = on the table, already there
- na stół = onto the table, movement toward it
In your sentence, the things are already on the table, so na stole is correct.
What case are the nouns bawełna, wełna, and len in?