Na podwórku obok krzaka leży piłka.

In Polish, na is often used for open areas or surfaces, and podwórko (yard / courtyard) is normally treated that way. So na podwórku means in the yard / in the courtyard in the natural Polish way.

Using w here would sound unusual to most speakers.

So:

• na podwórku = in the yard / in the courtyard
• w domu = in the house
• na ulicy = on the street / in the street
• na boisku = on the field

Polish prepositions do not always match English ones directly, so this is something that usually has to be learned as a fixed pattern.

After na when it means location, Polish uses the locative case.

The basic form is:

• podwórko = yard / courtyard

But after na in a location phrase, it becomes:

• na podwórku = in the yard

So the pattern is:

• nominative: podwórko
• locative: podwórku

This is very common in Polish:

• stół → na stole
• park → w parku
• podwórko → na podwórku

The preposition obok (next to / beside) requires the genitive case.

The dictionary form is:

• krzak = bush

After obok, it changes to:

• obok krzaka = next to the bush / next to a bush

So:

• obok domu = next to the house
• obok samochodu = next to the car
• obok krzaka = next to the bush

This is just a rule of Polish grammar: certain prepositions always take certain cases.

Leży means is lying or lies, so it gives a more specific picture of the ball’s position.

• Piłka jest na podwórku = The ball is in the yard.
• Piłka leży na podwórku = The ball is lying in the yard.

With objects like a ball, book, or stone, Polish often prefers verbs like:

• leżeć = to lie
• stać = to stand
• wisieć = to hang

These verbs describe how something is positioned, not just that it exists somewhere.

Polish word order is more flexible than English word order because case endings show the grammatical roles.

Both sentences are correct:

• Na podwórku obok krzaka leży piłka.
• Piłka leży na podwórku obok krzaka.

The difference is mainly focus.

Starting with Na podwórku obok krzaka puts attention on the location first, almost like:

• In the yard, next to the bush, there is a ball.

Starting with Piłka puts attention on the ball itself:

• The ball is lying in the yard next to the bush.

So the original sentence sounds natural if the location is the important new information.

Both are possible in Polish.

• Leży piłka sounds a bit more like introducing something in a place: there is a ball lying there
• Piłka leży sounds more neutral or topic-first: the ball is lying

In the full sentence, Na podwórku obok krzaka leży piłka is a very natural way to present the scene. It has a slightly descriptive, scene-setting feel.

Leży is the 3rd person singular present tense form of leżeć (to lie).

Conjugation:

• ja leżę = I am lying
• ty leżysz = you are lying
• on / ona / ono leży = he / she / it is lying
• my leżymy = we are lying
• wy leżycie = you are lying
• oni / one leżą = they are lying

Because piłka is singular, the verb is singular too:

• piłka leży

It can mean either one, depending on context.

Polish has no articles like a or the, so krzaka by itself does not tell you whether the bush is definite or indefinite.

So:

• obok krzaka can be next to a bush
• or next to the bush

You understand which one is meant from the broader situation or previous conversation.

The same is true for piłka:

• piłka can mean a ball or the ball

Because standard Polish does not have articles.

English says:

• a ball
• the ball

Polish simply says:

• piłka

Whether it means a ball or the ball depends on context, word order, and what has already been mentioned.

That is very normal in Polish, and learners usually get used to it quickly.

A helpful rough pronunciation is PEEW-ka, but with an important note:

• pi sounds a bit like py in pure, but shorter
• ł sounds like English w
• stress is on the second-to-last syllable: PIŁ-ka

So:

• piłka ≈ PEEW-ka

Also:

• krzak begins with a consonant cluster that may feel difficult for English speakers
• podwórku has stress on WÓR: pod-WUR-ku

As in most Polish words, the stress is on the penultimate syllable.

Not exactly.

• podwórko = yard / courtyard, usually the open area around or between buildings
• ogród = garden

So if you mean a place with flowers, vegetables, or a designed garden area, ogród may be better. If you mean a yard or courtyard where something is lying around, podwórko is very natural.

Yes, you may also hear na podwórzu.

Both podwórku and podwórzu are locative forms connected with podwórko / podwórze, and usage can vary by speaker, region, or style. In everyday Polish, na podwórku is extremely common and fully natural.

For a learner, na podwórku is a very good form to know and use first.