Breakdown of Podobno te perfumy pachną kusząco.
ten
this (m)
podobno
apparently
perfumy
perfume
pachnieć
to smell
Questions & Answers about Podobno te perfumy pachną kusząco.
Why does this sentence use the adverb kusząco (temptingly) instead of an adjective like the English 'smells tempting'?
In Polish, sensory verbs that describe how something appears to the senses—such as pachnieć (to smell), wyglądać (to look), and brzmieć (to sound)—must be modified by adverbs. While English relies on adjectives for these descriptions, Polish always requires an adverb.
Why is the verb pachną in the plural form ('they smell') if the English translation says 'this perfume'?
The Polish word for perfume, perfumy, is a 'pluralia tantum' noun, meaning it only ever exists in the plural form. Because of this, it pairs with the non-virile plural demonstrative te (these) and requires the plural verb form pachną.
How is the adverb kusząco formed?
What exact nuance does podobno add to this sentence?
Podobno translates to 'supposedly' or 'apparently.' It functions as a particle indicating that the speaker hasn't actually smelled the perfume themselves, but they are passing on an opinion they heard or read elsewhere.