Latem słońce świeci długo na niebie.

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Breakdown of Latem słońce świeci długo na niebie.

• na: in
• słońce: the sun
• latem: in the summer

Questions & Answers about Latem słońce świeci długo na niebie.

What does Latem mean, and why is it used instead of lato?

Latem means “in summer.” It’s the instrumental form of the noun lato (summer), used adverbially to express when something happens. In Polish, seasons often take the instrumental to form time expressions: latem, zimą, wiosną, jesienią.

Can I say w lecie instead of latem?

Yes. w lecie also means “in summer” (preposition w + locative lecie). Both are correct, though latem is more concise and common in everyday speech.

What gender is słońce, and how can I recognize it?

Słońce is neuter. Neuter nouns often end in -e, and their nominative and accusative forms are identical (słońce). Adjectives or pronouns referring to it would also take neuter endings (e.g. jasne słońce).

What is świeci, and what tense/aspect does it express?

Świeci is the 3rd person singular present tense of the imperfective verb świecić (“to shine”). Imperfective aspect describes ongoing or habitual actions, so słońce świeci can mean either “the sun shines” (habitually) or (right now).