Learn Polish: Ich sprzeciw wobec przemocy jest dobrze znany. - Their opposition to violence is well known.

Ich sprzeciw wobec przemocy jest dobrze znany.

Their opposition to violence is well known.

Breakdown of Ich sprzeciw wobec przemocy jest dobrze znany.

their (invariable possessive)

Questions & Answers about Ich sprzeciw wobec przemocy jest dobrze znany.

Why do we use wobec here instead of do to mean "opposition to"?

Abstract nouns in Polish often have specific prepositions they require, which is called noun government. While English says "opposition to," the noun sprzeciw typically pairs with wobec followed by the genitive case, or przeciwko followed by the dative case. Translating English prepositions literally rarely works for abstract concepts.

Could we say sprzeciw przeciwko przemocy instead?

Yes, absolutely. Both sprzeciw wobec (plus genitive) and sprzeciw przeciwko (plus dative) are correct and mean "opposition to/against." Using wobec can sound slightly more formal or objective, like a stance taken "in the face of" violence, while przeciwko highlights a direct clash against it.

What case is przemocy in this sentence, and why?

It is in the genitive case because it directly follows the preposition wobec, which always forces the noun that comes after it into the genitive.

The base word przemoc ends in a consonant, so why is its genitive form przemocy and not przemocu?