Zamknięcie parkingu po wypadku było ważne.

The closing of the parking lot after the accident was important.

Breakdown of Zamknięcie parkingu po wypadku było ważne.

• być: to be
• ważny: important
• po: after
• parking: the parking lot

Questions & Answers about Zamknięcie parkingu po wypadku było ważne.

What does zamknięcie mean here, and why does the sentence start with a noun instead of a verb?

Zamknięcie is a verbal noun formed from the verb zamknąć (to close / to shut).

So:

• zamknąć = to close
• zamknięcie = the closing / closure

In this sentence, zamknięcie parkingu means the closure of the parking lot or closing the parking lot.

Polish often uses verbal nouns this way, just like English can say:

• Closing the parking lot was important
• The closure of the parking lot was important

So the sentence begins with a noun phrase because the subject is not an action in verb form, but the event/concept of closing.

Why is it parkingu and not parking?

Because zamknięcie requires the thing being closed to appear in the genitive case.

So:

• parking = parking lot / car park
• zamknięcie parkingu = closing of the parking lot

This is very common with verbal nouns in Polish. Compare:

• otwarcie sklepu = opening of the shop
• zniszczenie miasta = destruction of the city
• zamknięcie drzwi = closing of the door

So parkingu is the genitive singular form of parking.

Why is it po wypadku?