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Po co on idzie do apteki?

Po co on idzie do apteki?
What is he going to the pharmacy for?
FromLesson 24inHardcore Polish
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Breakdown of Po co on idzie do apteki?

on
he
iść
to go
do
to
apteka
the pharmacy
po co
what for

Questions & Answers about Po co on idzie do apteki?

What does Po co actually mean?
Po co literally means for what (purpose) and asks about the goal/intended outcome. In natural English you’d usually translate it as Why is he going…? with a purpose in mind (What for?).
How is Po co different from Dlaczego?
  • Po co asks for purpose: expected answer is a goal, e.g., Żeby kupić leki (To buy medicine).
  • Dlaczego asks for cause/reason: expected answer is a cause, e.g., Bo jest chory (Because he’s ill).
    Using Po co can sound a bit more pointed, as if questioning the point of the action.
Can I replace it with Dlaczego on idzie do apteki?
Yes, but it changes what you’re asking for. Dlaczego…? invites a cause (Because…), while Po co…? invites a purpose (In order to…). Both are grammatical; choose based on what you want to know.
How do I answer this question naturally?

Common patterns:

  • Purpose: Żeby + infinitive → Żeby kupić leki (To buy medicine).
  • Cause: Bo + clause → Bo musi wykupić receptę (Because he has to fill a prescription).
    Very short, colloquial replies are possible too: Po leki (For medicine).
Why is the pronoun on there? Is it necessary?
Polish often drops subject pronouns. Po co idzie do apteki? is perfectly natural. Including on adds emphasis or contrast (he, as opposed to someone else).
Is the word order fixed? Could I say Po co idzie on do apteki?

The neutral options are Po co on idzie do apteki? and Po co idzie do apteki?
Po co idzie on do apteki? is possible but marked/emphatic. On po co idzie do apteki? generally sounds odd.

Why is it idzie and not chodzi?

Iść/Idzie means he’s going now (a single, ongoing movement).
Chodzi/Chodzić is habitual/repeated: On chodzi do apteki = He goes to the pharmacy (regularly).

How would I talk about the future (will go)?

Use the perfective pójść for a single future trip: Po co on pójdzie do apteki (jutro)?
For an ongoing-in-the-future sense: Po co on będzie szedł do apteki?
In practice, you’ll usually add a time word (e.g., jutro) or just use context.

What’s the difference between idzie and jedzie?
  • Idzie = goes on foot.
  • Jedzie = goes by vehicle (car, bus, tram, etc.).
    So: Po co on jedzie do apteki? if he’s driving or riding.
Why is it do apteki and not na aptekę?

Do + genitive is the default for going to an enclosed place/building: do apteki, do sklepu.
Na + accusative is used for some institutions/venues/events by convention: na pocztę (post office), na dworzec (station). For a pharmacy, standard Polish is do apteki.

What case is apteki, and why that form?
Apteki is genitive singular of apteka. The preposition do requires the genitive: do apteki (to the pharmacy).
How would I say “to the pharmacies” (plural)?
Use the genitive plural: do aptek.
Does Polish use articles here (a/the)?
No. Polish has no articles. Do apteki can mean either to the pharmacy or to a pharmacy, depending on context.
Is Czy ever used with this kind of question?
No. Czy introduces yes/no questions. Wh-questions like Po co…?, Gdzie…?, Kiedy…? don’t take czy.
How is the sentence pronounced?

Approximate: po tso on EE-jeh doh ahp-TEH-kee.
Stress is mostly on the second-to-last syllable of each word: po CO, i-DZIE, ap-TE-ki.

Could Po co sound rude? How to make it softer?
It can sound blunt if the context implies “What’s the point?” To soften, ask Dlaczego on idzie do apteki? or add politeness: A wiesz, po co on idzie do apteki? (Do you know what he’s going to the pharmacy for?)
Is apteka the same as a drugstore?
Not exactly. Apteka = pharmacy/chemist’s (prescriptions and medicines). Drogeria = drugstore/beauty store (cosmetics, toiletries, often no prescription meds).

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