Breakdown of Zarówno statek, jak i prom odpłynęły punktualnie.
i
and
punktualnie
punctually
zarówno
both
statek
the ship (m)
Questions & Answers about Zarówno statek, jak i prom odpłynęły punktualnie.
Why is there a comma before jak i?
In Polish punctuation, when you use a two-part conjunction like zarówno ... jak i ... (both ... and ...), you must always place a comma before the second part. This is a strict rule, unlike in English where we do not use a comma in the middle of 'both X and Y'.
Both statek and prom are masculine nouns, so why does the verb end in -ły (odpłynęły) instead of the masculine plural -li (odpłynęli)?
They are masculine inanimate nouns. In the past tense plural, the -li (masculine personal) ending is reserved strictly for groups containing at least one male human. For everything else, including masculine inanimate objects like ships and ferries, you must use the non-masculine personal ending -ły.
Could I just use i ... i ... instead of zarówno ... jak i ... here?
Why use punktualnie here instead of na czas for 'on time'?
Punktualnie specifically means 'punctually' or exactly at the scheduled hour, which fits perfectly when talking about public transport departures. Na czas is a bit broader and often means 'in time' to avoid being late, though they can sometimes be used interchangeably.