Breakdown of Pod wieczór zwykle robię sobie herbatę.
herbata
tea
robić
to make, to do
zwykle
usually
siebie
oneself
Questions & Answers about Pod wieczór zwykle robię sobie herbatę.
Why does pod mean "towards" instead of "under" in this sentence, and what case is it using?
When pod is used with a time word in the accusative case, like wieczór, it changes meaning from physical location (under) to temporal approximation (towards or approaching). Even though wieczór looks exactly like its dictionary nominative form, it is actually in the accusative case here because it is an inanimate masculine noun.
Can I use pod in this way with other times of day or seasons?
Yes, you can use it with many other time expressions to mean "approaching." For example, you will frequently hear phrases like pod koniec (towards the end), pod jesień (towards autumn), or pod starość (towards old age).
What is the purpose of the word sobie here, and what case is it in?
Sobie is the dative form of the reflexive pronoun się. Here it means "for myself." While robię herbatę simply states the fact "I make tea," adding sobie adds a cozy, personal nuance, meaning "I make myself some tea" or "I make tea for my own comfort."
Why is sobie placed exactly where it is? Could I put it at the end of the sentence instead?