Questions & Answers about Moja żona pracuje na pół etatu.
Why does the phrase for "part-time" use the word etatu?
The base word is etat, which means a full-time position or job. The phrase literally translates to "on half of a full-time job". Because pół (half) expresses a quantity, it forces the noun that follows into the genitive case, changing etat to etatu.
Why do we use the preposition na in this phrase?
Polish uses na to express the terms or conditions of employment. You can think of it as working "on the basis of" half a position. It is the standard preposition for talking about employment fractions.
How would I change this sentence to say she works "full-time"?
You would say Moja żona pracuje na cały etat. In this case, cały (whole/full) is a regular adjective, so it doesn't force the genitive case like pół does. Instead, cały etat is in the accusative case, which looks exactly like the dictionary form for inanimate masculine nouns.
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