Strata wiosła jest problemem.

to be

Breakdown of Strata wiosła jest problemem.

• problem: the problem
• wiosło: the paddle
• strata: loss

Questions & Answers about Strata wiosła jest problemem.

Why is wiosła used here instead of wiosło?

Because strata means loss, and in Polish this noun normally takes the genitive: loss of something.

• wiosło = nominative singular, oar / paddle
• wiosła = genitive singular, of the oar / paddle

So:

• strata wiosła = loss of the oar/paddle

This is very similar to English the loss of the oar.

Could wiosła be plural here?

In isolation, wiosła can indeed be:

• genitive singular of wiosło
• or nominative/accusative plural of wiosło

But in this sentence, after strata, it is understood as genitive singular.

So here it means:

• strata wiosła = loss of the oar

  not

• loss of oars

If you wanted loss of the oars, you would normally need context or a different form such as strata wioseł.

Why is problemem in the instrumental case?