Questions & Answers about Nie wiem, po co on bierze dwa kubki.
What’s the difference between po co and dlaczego?
- po co asks about purpose: what goal someone has (what for).
- dlaczego asks about cause/reason: what made something happen (why). In this sentence, you’re unsure of his purpose in taking two cups.
Can I replace po co with dlaczego here?
You can, but it slightly changes the focus:
- Nie wiem, po co… = I don’t know what he needs them for (purpose).
- Nie wiem, dlaczego… = I don’t know why he’s doing it (cause/motivation). Both are often fine; choose based on what you want to emphasize.
Why is there a comma after Nie wiem?
Polish uses a comma before a subordinate clause introduced by an interrogative word like po co, gdzie, kiedy, dlaczego, jak. So: Nie wiem, po co… is the standard punctuation.
Is the pronoun on necessary?
No. Polish often drops subject pronouns when context is clear. You can say:
- Nie wiem, po co bierze dwa kubki. Including on adds clarity or emphasis (“he, not someone else”).
Why use and not ?