Breakdown of Twój bagaż podręczny nie może przekraczać limitu wagi.
nie
no / not
twój
your
bagaż
luggage
móc
to be able to
waga
weight
limit
the limit
podręczny
carry-on
przekraczać
to exceed
Questions & Answers about Twój bagaż podręczny nie może przekraczać limitu wagi.
Why is the imperfective verb przekraczać used here instead of the perfective przekroczyć?
Because this sentence states a rule or prohibition ("must not exceed"). When nie móc expresses that something is not allowed, it takes an imperfective verb. If we used the perfective przekroczyć, it would imply a physical inability, as if the bag physically lacked the capacity to be that heavy.
Why is the object limitu in the Genitive case? Doesn't the verb usually take the Accusative?
This is the Genitive of Negation. Even though the word nie is attached to the modal verb (może), its negative effect reaches across to the object of the infinitive. Since the affirmative verb takes the Accusative (limit), the negated phrase changes the object to the Genitive (limitu).
Does przekraczać only mean "exceed" in an abstract sense?
No, you can use it for both abstract limits and physical boundaries. The verb literally means "to step across." You will see it used for crossing borders (przekraczać granicę), crossing a street, or exceeding a speed limit.
Why does waga change to wagi at the end of the sentence?
It is in the Genitive case because it modifies the noun before it. Just like English uses "of" to say "limit of weight," Polish achieves this relationship by placing the second noun in the Genitive (limit wagi).
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