Smoczek leży obok poduszki, a grzechotka spadła pod łóżko.

The pacifier is lying next to the pillow, and the rattle fell under the bed.

Breakdown of Smoczek leży obok poduszki, a grzechotka spadła pod łóżko.

• a: and
• obok: next to
• łóżko: the bed
• leżeć: to lie

Questions & Answers about Smoczek leży obok poduszki, a grzechotka spadła pod łóżko.

Why is it obok poduszki and not obok poduszka?

Because obok takes the genitive case when it means next to / beside.

• dictionary form: poduszka
• genitive singular: poduszki

So:

• obok poduszki = next to the pillow

This is a very common pattern in Polish:

• obok domu = next to the house
• obok stołu = next to the table

Why is it pod łóżko and not pod łóżkiem?

Because Polish uses different cases after pod depending on whether you mean:

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

Here, the rattle fell under the bed, so there is movement, which is why Polish uses:

• pod łóżko

Compare:

• Grzechotka spadła pod łóżko. = The rattle fell under the bed.
• Grzechotka leży pod łóżkiem. = The rattle is lying under the bed.

Also, łóżko is a neuter noun, and in the singular its accusative looks the same as its nominative, so the form stays łóżko.

What is the difference between a and i in this sentence?