Question 1

Why is the word for fragrance in the genitive case (zapachu) instead of the accusative (zapach)?

Accepted Answer

This is due to the genitive of negation. Even though the direct object belongs to the infinitive komponować, the negation nie in front of the auxiliary verb mógł extends to the whole verb phrase, forcing the direct object into the genitive case.

Question 2

Could I use the perfective verb skomponować here instead of the imperfective komponować?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it changes the nuance. Using the imperfective komponować emphasizes the inability to even engage in the process of formulating the scent. If you used the perfective skomponować, it would mean he couldn't successfully finish or achieve the final result.

Question 3

Why does the genitive of ekstrakt end in -u (ekstraktu) rather than -a?

Accepted Answer

For masculine inanimate nouns in the genitive singular, the ending can be either -a or -u. Substances, materials, abstract concepts, and foreign loanwords typically take the -u ending, which makes ekstrakt a perfect candidate for -u.

Question 4

If I wanted to introduce this sentence with a phrase like "He stated that...", how would I use the formal word iż from this lesson?

Accepted Answer

You would say Stwierdził, iż perfumiarz nie mógł komponować.... The complementizer iż functions exactly like że (that) to introduce the subordinate clause, but it gives the sentence a much more formal, literary, or journalistic tone. Just like with że, you must always place a comma before iż.

Perfumiarz nie mógł komponować zapachu bez tego ekstraktu.

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