Breakdown of Muzyk sprzedał troje skrzypiec.
sprzedać
to sell
muzyk
musician
troje
three (collective)
skrzypce
violin
Questions & Answers about Muzyk sprzedał troje skrzypiec.
Why do we use troje instead of trzy in this sentence?
Because skrzypce (violins) is a plural-only noun in Polish. When counting items that only exist in the plural form (pluralia tantum), you must use collective numerals like troje instead of standard cardinal numbers like trzy.
Why is the word for violins spelled skrzypiec here instead of skrzypce?
It is in the genitive case. Collective numerals like troje always force the noun that follows them into the genitive case, regardless of the grammatical role the whole phrase plays in the sentence.
Is skrzypiec an irregular genitive form?
Yes, the genitive plural of skrzypce is tricky. Instead of taking a standard ending, it drops the final -e and inserts an -ie- to make the remaining cluster of consonants easier to pronounce, resulting in skrzypiec.
The lesson mentions using the word para (pair) to count plural-only nouns. Could I say trzy pary skrzypiec here?
No, para is only used for plural-only nouns that naturally consist of two symmetrical parts, like okulary (glasses) or spodnie (trousers). A violin is a single object, so you cannot use para to count them. You must use a collective numeral like troje.
Learn Muzyk sprzedał troje skrzypiec and more in Polish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free