Breakdown of Nie wiem, po co on bierze dwa kubki.
on
he
nie
not
dwa
two
wiedzieć
to know
co
what
kubek
the mug
po
for
brać
to take
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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 bierze and not weźmie?
- bierze is present tense, imperfective: “is taking” or “takes (generally).”
- weźmie is future tense, perfective: “will take (once, completed).” Use bierze if it’s happening now or is habitual; weźmie if you mean a single future act.
What’s the difference between brać/bierze, wziąć/weźmie, and zabrać/zabiera?
- brać (bierze): to take (ongoing/habitual or in-progress).
- wziąć (weźmie): to take (single, completed act; future/once-off).
- zabrać (zabiera/zabierze): to take away/remove from somewhere or someone. Here, bierze simply describes the act of taking.
Does bierze mean “is taking” or “takes”?
Both. Polish present tense covers English simple and continuous. Context tells you whether it’s a current action or a habit.
Why is it dwa kubki and not dwie kubki?
Because kubek is masculine inanimate. With masculine inanimate (and neuter) nouns, use dwa. Use dwie with feminine nouns (e.g., dwie szklanki “two glasses”).
Why kubki and not kubków after the number two?
With 2, 3, 4 (and numbers ending in 2–4 except 12–14), masculine inanimate nouns take the nominative plural form: dwa/trzy/cztery kubki. With 5+ (and 12–14), use genitive plural: pięć kubków.
What case is dwa kubki here?
Accusative (it’s the direct object of bierze). For masculine inanimate nouns, accusative plural equals nominative plural, hence kubki.
How would it look with a different number, like five?
- Nie wiem, po co on bierze pięć kubków. (genitive plural after 5+)
Can I change the word order?
Yes, but the neutral, most natural version is:
- Nie wiem, po co on bierze dwa kubki. Variants:
- Nie wiem, po co bierze dwa kubki. (drop pronoun)
- Nie wiem, po co on dwa kubki bierze. (emphasizes “two cups”)
- Nie wiem, po co bierze on dwa kubki. (marked; emphasizes “he”) Use marked orders sparingly for emphasis.
How do I turn the embedded clause into a direct question?
- Po co on bierze dwa kubki? or simply Po co bierze dwa kubki? If you want “why (cause)?” ask: Dlaczego on bierze dwa kubki?
Do I ever need że after Nie wiem?
Not with indirect questions. Say:
- Nie wiem, po co… / dlaczego… / gdzie… / czy… Don’t say: Nie wiem, że po co… That’s ungrammatical.
Any pronunciation tips for tricky parts?
- bierze: “BIE”-like “bye” + “-zhe” (ż/rz = the same “zh” sound).
- po co: “PO tso.”
- kubki: “KOOB-kee” (the bk cluster is pronounced together). Stress is always on the penultimate syllable: nie WIEM, PO co, bie RZE, KUB ki.
Is kubek a “cup” or a “mug”?
Usually a mug (thick-walled cup with a handle). For a delicate cup and saucer, use filiżanka; for a glass (tumbler), szklanka. Context matters, but kubek most often implies a mug.