Konewka stoi za domem obok grabi, więc dzieci też mogą podlewać kwiaty.

the house

Breakdown of Konewka stoi za domem obok grabi, więc dzieci też mogą podlewać kwiaty.

• dziecko: the child
• też: also
• więc: so

Questions & Answers about Konewka stoi za domem obok grabi, więc dzieci też mogą podlewać kwiaty.

Why is it za domem and not za dom?

Because za can take different cases depending on the meaning.

Here it means behind the house in a static location sense, so Polish uses the instrumental case:

• dom → domem

Compare:

• za domem = behind the house
• iść za dom = to go behind the house

So:

• location → often instrumental
• movement toward a place → often accusative

In this sentence, the watering can is already there, so za domem is correct.

Why is it obok grabi and not obok grabie?

Because obok requires the genitive case.

The noun grabie means rake/rakes, but it is one of those Polish nouns that normally exists only in the plural form. Its dictionary form is grabie, and its genitive form is grabi.

So:

• grabie = nominative
• grabi = genitive

Since obok means next to / beside and takes the genitive, we get:

• obok grabi = next to the rake(s)

Is grabie singular or plural?