Breakdown of Przede wszystkim musimy zatarasować to przejście.
ten
this (m)
musieć
to have to
przede wszystkim
above all, first of all
zatarasować
to obstruct
przejście
passage
Questions & Answers about Przede wszystkim musimy zatarasować to przejście.
How does the prefix za- function in the verb zatarasować?
In this lesson's context of blocking and enclosure, the prefix za- added to tarasować (to barricade or obstruct) makes the verb perfective and emphasizes the complete sealing off of the space. It gives the strong sense of closing something up so that movement is no longer possible.
Does zatarasować have anything to do with the Polish word taras (terrace)?
Yes! Historically, a taras referred to a defensive earthwork or barricade made of felled trees, which later evolved to mean a terrace or patio. So zatarasować literally means to barricade a space.
Why does the phrase przede wszystkim use the word wszystkim instead of wszystko?
The preposition przed (before) requires the instrumental case when used in this figurative sense of priority. Wszystkim is the instrumental form of wszystko (everything). Notice also how przed becomes przede to make it easier to pronounce before the consonant cluster in wszystkim.
What case is to przejście (this passage) here, and why didn't its ending change?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb zatarasować. Since przejście is a neuter noun, its accusative form is identical to its nominative (dictionary) form, which is why it looks unchanged.
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