Learn Hardcore Polish: Pomysł, który podsunęła Ola, polega na tym, żeby położyć dywan bliżej kanapy. - The idea that Ola suggested is to place the carpet closer to the sofa.

This is a relative (adjective) clause modifying pomysł. It tells us which idea we’re talking about—specifically, the idea that Ola suggested. In English you might say, “the idea that Ola suggested.” Here, który = “that,” and the entire clause gives more information about pomysł.

Why is który used (and not która or które)?

Który must agree in gender, number, and case with pomysł.
• Pomysł is masculine singular and inanimate.
• As the direct object of podsunęła (she “suggested” the idea), it takes the accusative form.
• For inanimate masculine nouns, nominative and accusative look the same.
Hence we use który (masc. sg. nom/acc.), not która (fem.) or które (neut.).

What does the phrase polega na tym, żeby ... mean?

Polega na tym, żeby is a fixed expression meaning “it consists in …” or “the point is ….” You use it to introduce an explanation of how something works or what it involves.
Structure:

polega na
- tym (a dummy pronoun)
żeby
- infinitive clause

So polega na tym, żeby położyć dywan bliżej kanapy = “it consists in laying the carpet closer to the sofa.”

Why do we need na tym in polega na tym? Could we say simply polega, żeby?

No, you need na tym because polegać requires the preposition na plus an object.
• Na tym is a placeholder referring to “this” idea or point.
• It links the verb polegać to the clause introduced by żeby.

Without na tym, the sentence would be ungrammatical: you can’t say polega żeby.

What is the role of żeby here? Why not use że or an infinitive directly?

Żeby introduces a purpose or result clause and is followed by a finite verb or, in colloquial style, an infinitive.
• Że + indicative simply reports a fact (“that …”), not a purpose.
• An infinitive alone after polegać is not standard: you need żeby (or aby) to link to the infinitive clause.
• Aby is more formal; żeby is more common in speech.

So żeby położyć conveys the idea of “in order to lay (the carpet).”

Why is kanapy in the genitive case after bliżej?

Bliżej is a comparative adverb meaning “closer,” and it governs the genitive case in Polish.
• You say bliżej kanapy = “closer to the sofa.”
• If you used a noun without comparison, you’d use locative with do (e.g., przy kanapie = “by the sofa”), but bliżej specifically pairs with genitive.

Could we change word order in położyć dywan bliżej kanapy?

Yes, Polish word order is relatively flexible, but

położyć dywan bliżej kanapy is the most neutral: verb – object – adverbial.
You could also say położyć bliżej kanapy dywan for emphasis on dywan, or dywan położyć bliżej kanapy in more poetic contexts.
Just remember to keep bliżej kanapy together, because it forms one adverbial phrase.

Why use położyć (to lay) instead of przesunąć (to move)?

• Położyć focuses on placing or laying something down in a particular spot.
• Przesunąć means to shift or move something from one place to another, without implying “laying it out.”

In context, if the carpet is already down, you might say przesunąć dywan bliżej kanapy (“to move the rug closer”). But if you’re arranging the carpet for the first time or re-laying it, położyć is more natural.