Breakdown of Ten słoń ma lat dwadzieścia i waży ton pięć.
i
and
mieć
to have
ten
this (m)
pięć
five
rok
year
dwadzieścia
twenty
słoń
elephant
ważyć
to weigh
tona
ton
Questions & Answers about Ten słoń ma lat dwadzieścia i waży ton pięć.
Why is the word order lat dwadzieścia and ton pięć instead of the normal way around?
This is syntactic numeral approximation. By putting the noun before the numeral (lat dwadzieścia instead of dwadzieścia lat), you change the meaning from an exact number to an estimate. It translates to roughly or about twenty years. The same applies to ton pięć for about five tons.
What case are lat and ton in, and why didn't the inversion change it?
They are both in the genitive plural. In Polish, numerals five and above (like pięć and dwadzieścia) force the noun they quantify into the genitive plural case. Reversing the word order to show approximation does not change this underlying grammar rule; the numeral still dictates the case of the noun.
Is it common to use this inverted word order instead of just saying około (about)?
Yes, it is very common and natural in spoken Polish for estimating age, time, or measurements. Using około is also correct, but it requires you to decline the numeral into the genitive case (około dwudziestu lat). Simply flipping the noun and numeral in their basic forms is a handy shortcut that sounds very native.
If I wanted to state the exact age and weight, how would this sentence change?
You would revert to the standard word order where the numeral comes first. To state exact facts, you would say: Ten słoń ma dwadzieścia lat i waży pięć ton.
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