Breakdown of Człowiek musi wypełnić wniosek, bo to jest obowiązkowa formalność.
to
this
być
to be
musieć
to have to
bo
because
człowiek
person, human
wniosek
application
wypełnić
to fill in
obowiązkowy
mandatory
formalność
formality
Questions & Answers about Człowiek musi wypełnić wniosek, bo to jest obowiązkowa formalność.
How does the word człowiek function in this sentence? Doesn't it usually mean "man" or "human"?
While człowiek literally means "human" or "person", Polish frequently uses it as a generic pronoun for universal experiences. In this sentence, it translates to the generic English "one" or "you" (as in "One must fill out the application"). It takes a standard third-person singular verb, which is why we see musi.
I thought defining what something is requires the instrumental case. Why is obowiązkowa formalność in the nominative here?
That is a great catch! You normally use the instrumental case when linking a subject to a noun with the verb być alone (for example, "Ten krok jest obowiązkową formalnością"). However, when you use the specific construction to jest (this is / it is), the noun phrase that follows always stays in the nominative case.
Why is the direct object wniosek identical to its dictionary form? Shouldn't it change in the accusative case?
It actually is in the accusative case here because it is the direct object of the verb wypełnić. However, wniosek (application or request) is an inanimate masculine noun. For inanimate masculine nouns in Polish, the accusative form is always identical to the nominative dictionary form.
Could I use a different verb for "fill", such as napełnić, instead of wypełnić?
No, they are not interchangeable. Wypełnić is used specifically for filling out documents, forms, or applications (like a wniosek), or for fulfilling a duty. Napełnić is strictly used for physically filling a container, like filling a glass with water.
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