Summer Camp Context
Let's establish some basic vocabulary for a summer camp (obóz). You will often hear about the counselor (wychowawca) and the participants (uczestnik).
| The counselor organized the camp for the participants. | Wychowawca zorganizował obóz dla uczestników. |
Collective Numerals in the Past Tense
Collective numerals (like dwoje, pięcioro, dziesięcioro) count mixed-gender groups, children, and young animals.
When a collective numeral phrase is the subject of a past-tense sentence, it requires:
- The noun following the number to be in the Genitive plural (e.g., uczestników, harcerzy).
- The past-tense verb to take the neuter singular form, ending in -ło.
Even though you are talking about multiple people, the collective numeral acts as a single, neuter entity. Notice the -ło verb endings (przyjechało, stało) below:
| Ten participants came to the camp yesterday. | Dziesięcioro uczestników przyjechało wczoraj na obóz. |
| Five scouts stood at the assembly. | Pięcioro harcerzy stało na zbiórce. |
This rule applies to all past-tense verbs following a collective numeral:
| Eight children slept in this tent. | Ośmioro dzieci spało w tym namiocie. |
| Seven scouts got a punishment. | Siedmioro harcerzy dostało karę. |
| Two participants lost their flashlights on the trip. | Dwoje uczestników zgubiło latarki na wycieczce. |
| Six scouts got lost in the forest. | Sześcioro harcerzy zgubiło się w lesie. |
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