Ich rodzeństwo często spaceruje po parku w weekend.

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Questions & Answers about Ich rodzeństwo często spaceruje po parku w weekend.

Why is it Ich rodzeństwo and not something like oni rodzeństwo?

In Polish, oni means they (subject pronoun), while ich here is a possessive pronoun meaning their.

  • Ich rodzeństwo = their siblings
  • oni cannot be used before a noun like that; you don’t say oni rodzeństwo.

So the structure is exactly like English:

  • English: their siblings
  • Polish: ich rodzeństwo
What exactly does rodzeństwo mean? Is it singular or plural?

Rodzeństwo is a collective noun meaning siblings (brothers and sisters together).

Grammatically:

  • It is neuter singular.
  • It behaves like a singular noun with singular verb forms, even though it refers to more than one person.

So:

  • Ich rodzeństwo spaceruje = Their siblings walk/take a walk
    (verb is 3rd person singular because rodzeństwo is grammatically singular)
Why is it spaceruje (singular) and not spacerują (plural)?

Because the grammatical subject is rodzeństwo, which is singular in form.

  • rodzeństwo spaceruje – correct (neuter, 3rd person singular)
  • rodzeństwo spacerują – sounds wrong/colloquial; not standard Polish

Even though we think of several people (siblings), the verb must agree with the grammatical number (singular), not the real-world number.

What is the difference between rodzeństwo and words like bracia or siostry?
  • rodzeństwosiblings in general (brothers and/or sisters together), collective, neuter singular.
  • braciabrothers (plural of brat).
  • siostrysisters (plural of siostra).

Examples:

  • Ich rodzeństwo często spaceruje… – Their siblings often go for walks… (neutral about mix of genders)
  • Ich bracia często spacerują… – Their brothers often go for walks… (only brothers; plural verb)
  • Ich siostry często spacerują… – Their sisters often go for walks… (only sisters; plural verb)
Why is it po parku and not po park?

The preposition po in the sense of around, along, through takes the locative case.

  • Nominative: park
  • Locative: parku

So:

  • po parku = around the park / in the park (walking around inside it)

You would use po + [locative] for similar expressions:

  • po mieście – around the city
  • po lesie – around the forest
What is the difference between po parku and w parku?

Both are possible, but the nuance is slightly different:

  • w parkuin the park, simply inside the park.
  • po parkuaround the park, emphasizing movement within the park, walking around in it.

In your sentence, spaceruje po parku nicely matches the idea of strolling around the park.

What case is parku, and how is it formed?

Parku is locative singular of park (a masculine noun).

Pattern:

  • Nominative: park
  • Genitive: parku
  • Locative: parku

After po (in this meaning) and w/we (when meaning “in”) you usually get the locative:

  • w parku – in the park
  • o parku – about the park
  • po parku – around the park
Why is it w weekend, not w weekendzie?

With time expressions, w + accusative is very common in modern Polish:

  • w weekend – on/at the weekend
    (here weekend is in the accusative, which looks the same as nominative)

You may also see:

  • w weekendy – on weekends (regularly, every weekend)
  • w weekendzie – exists, but is less common and can sound a bit heavier or more colloquial/regionally marked.

So:

  • w weekend = on the weekend (this coming/that weekend)
  • w weekendy = on weekends (in general, habitually)
Where can często go in the sentence? Can I move it?

Yes, często (often) is a relatively flexible adverb. All of these are possible, with slight emphasis changes:

  • Ich rodzeństwo często spaceruje po parku w weekend.
    (neutral; often modifies the whole action)
  • Często ich rodzeństwo spaceruje po parku w weekend.
    (emphasis on often at the beginning)
  • Ich rodzeństwo spaceruje często po parku w weekend.
    (also possible; a bit more marked)

The most natural, neutral position in this sentence is right before the verb:
Ich rodzeństwo często spaceruje…

What is the nuance of spaceruje compared to idzie or chodzi?

All three can involve walking, but they’re used differently:

  • spacerować – to stroll, to go for a walk (for pleasure, leisurely).
    spaceruje = (he/she/it) is strolling / goes for a walk.

  • iść – to go (on foot) right now, one direction, “on the way somewhere now”.
    idzie do parku – he/she is going to the park (right now).

  • chodzić – to go on foot habitually/repeatedly or in multiple directions.
    chodzi do parku – he/she goes to the park (regularly).

So często spaceruje po parku emphasizes that they often take walks in the park, not just that they go there as a destination.