Learn Polish: Chcemy usprawnić ten proces, żeby był bardziej wydajny. - We want to streamline this process so that it is more efficient.

It is built from the adjective sprawny (efficient, smooth-running, capable). By adding the prefix u- and the verbal ending -ić, we create a verb that means "to cause something to have this quality." Therefore, usprawnić literally means "to make something efficient or functional," which perfectly translates to "streamline."

What is the exact difference in meaning between sprawny (the root of usprawnić) and wydajny?

While both can translate to "efficient" in English, they focus on different aspects. Sprawny means something is functional, agile, or operates smoothly without breaking down (like a well-oiled machine). Wydajny refers specifically to productivity and yield—getting maximum output for your time or energy. So in this sentence, we are making the process run smoother (usprawnić) so that it yields more output (bardziej wydajny).

Why is the past tense verb był used after żeby when the goal is clearly in the future?

The conjunction żeby (so that, in order to) creates a purpose clause. In Polish, when a purpose clause has a different subject than the main clause (here, "we" want, so that "the process" is), the verb following żeby must always be in the third-person past tense form. This grammatical rule applies regardless of whether the actual event is happening in the past, present, or future.

Is ten proces in the nominative or accusative case here?