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Autobus odjeżdża z przystanku obok apteki.

Autobus odjeżdża z przystanku obok apteki.
The bus leaves from the stop next to the pharmacy.
FromLesson 13inHardcore Polish
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Questions & Answers about Autobus odjeżdża z przystanku obok apteki.

What does odjeżdża mean here, and why is it in the present tense when the departure is actually in the future?
Odjeżdża is the third-person singular present form of the imperfective verb odjeżdżać, meaning “to depart” or “to drive away.” In Polish, the present tense of an imperfective verb is often used to describe scheduled or timetabled future events—just as in English you say “The train leaves at 5 PM.”
What is the infinitive form of odjeżdża, and what about its aspect?
The infinitive is odjeżdżać (imperfective). Its perfective counterpart, which you’d use to describe a completed departure, is odjechać (e.g. Autobus właśnie odjechał – “The bus has just left”).
Why is it z przystanku and not z przystanek or some other form?
The preposition z (“from”) requires the genitive case. The base noun przystanek (“stop”) in genitive singular becomes przystanku.
Why is obok apteki used instead of something like obok apteka?
The preposition obok (“next to,” “beside”) also governs the genitive case. The noun apteka (“pharmacy”) in genitive singular is apteki, so you get obok apteki.
What’s the difference between obok apteki and przy aptece?

Both can translate as “next to the pharmacy,” but:

  • obok apteki emphasizes “right beside,” very close but not attached.
  • przy aptece (with przy
    • locative (aptece)) suggests proximity—“by the pharmacy,” maybe at its entrance or in its immediate area.
How can I tell that apteka is feminine and decline it correctly?

Most Polish nouns ending in -a are feminine. The declension for a feminine noun like apteka is:
• Nominative (subject): apteka
• Genitive (after z, obok, etc.): apteki
• Locative (after przy, w, etc.): aptece
Knowing the gender lets you pick correct adjective endings and case forms.

Could I say “The bus departs at the bus stop next to the pharmacy” in one Polish sentence?

Yes. You just add the time after the verb:
Autobus odjeżdża o osiemnastej z przystanku obok apteki.
Here o osiemnastej (“at six PM”) sits between the verb and its place expression.

If I wanted to say “The bus is leaving (right now) from the stop next to the pharmacy,” is anything different?

You could keep the same structure but add a time adverb or continuous nuance:
Autobus właśnie odjeżdża z przystanku obok apteki.
właśnie (= “just now”) signals that the action is occurring at this moment.

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