Learn Hardcore Polish: Ten leniwy turysta robi tylko jedno zdjęcie i od razu idzie na deser. - That lazy tourist takes only one photo and immediately goes for dessert.

In Polish the demonstrative changes to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. ten is masculine singular nominative, matching turysta (a masculine noun). ta would be feminine and to is neuter, so they wouldn’t agree with turysta.

Why does turysta end in -a even though it’s masculine?

Some Polish masculine nouns (often denoting people) end in -a. These are called masculine personal nouns (e.g. mężczyzna, artysta, turysta). They follow the masculine declension pattern despite the -a ending, so adjectives and verbs treating them as masculine (animate) must agree accordingly.

Why is the adjective leniwy ending in -y?

Adjectives in the nominative singular masculine animate form typically end in -y or -i. Here leniwy (lazy) takes the -y ending to agree with the masculine noun turysta. After certain consonants you might see -i instead (e.g. wysoki vs. miły).

How does robi zdjęcie mean “take a photo”? Isn’t robić = “make”?

In Polish robić zdjęcie literally means “to make a photo,” but idiomatically it’s used exactly like English “to take a photo.”
• robi (imperfective) = the action is ongoing or habitual (“he is taking/is used to taking photos”)
• zrobi (perfective) = a single completed action (“he will take one photo”).

Why is it tylko jedno zdjęcie and not jedno tylko zdjęcie?

The focus particle tylko (“only”) normally precedes the element it restricts. Placing it right before jedno zdjęcie is the most neutral, common order. Polish word order is flexible, but this structure clearly shows “only one photo.”

What’s the difference between od razu and zaraz?

Both mean “immediately,” but:
• od razu – neutral or slightly more formal; unambiguous “right away.”
• zaraz – more colloquial; can sometimes also mean “soon” depending on intonation/context.

Why is it idzie na deser with na + accusative?

Verbs of motion like iść (“to go”) use na + accusative to express going toward events or destinations (na spacer, na obiad, na koncert). deser is a masculine inanimate noun whose nominative and accusative forms are identical (deser).

Could you switch od razu and tylko around or move na deser earlier?

You have some freedom, but native patterns matter. For example:
• Ten leniwy turysta robi jedno zdjęcie tylko i od razu idzie na deser. (still correct, but “tylko” after the noun sounds more marked)
• Ten leniwy turysta od razu idzie na deser i robi tylko jedno zdjęcie. (changes emphasis—he goes for dessert first, then takes a photo)
The original order keeps the sequence and focus (only one photo, then dessert) most clear and natural.