Questions & Answers about Słońce świeci wysoko na niebie.
What does each word in Słońce świeci wysoko na niebie mean?
Word by word:
- słońce = sun
- świeci = shines / is shining
- wysoko = high
- na = on / in / at depending on context
- niebie = sky in the locative case
So the sentence literally comes out as something like The sun shines high in the sky.
Why is it świeci and not świecić?
Świecić is the dictionary form of the verb, meaning to shine.
In the sentence, you need a conjugated form, because Polish verbs change depending on the subject.
Here the subject is słońce (the sun), which is 3rd person singular, so:
- świecić = to shine
- świeci = it shines / is shining
So Słońce świeci means The sun shines or The sun is shining.
Does świeci mean shines or is shining?
It can mean both.
Polish present tense often covers both:
- The sun shines
- The sun is shining
The exact English translation depends on context. In this sentence, either is natural.
Why is used instead of an adjective like ?