Breakdown of Co za wspaniały pomysł, żeby zabudować ten pusty plac!
ten
this (m)
żeby
so that, in order to
pomysł
idea
pusty
empty
plac
the square
wspaniały
wonderful, magnificent
co za
what a
zabudować
to enclose
Questions & Answers about Co za wspaniały pomysł, żeby zabudować ten pusty plac!
How does the prefix za- change the meaning of budować in the word zabudować here?
The base verb budować means to build. In Polish, adding the prefix za- to a verb of action often adds the meaning of enclosing, covering, or blocking a space. Here, zabudować specifically means to fill an area with buildings so that the previously empty space is covered or enclosed.
Why do we use żeby zabudować instead of just the infinitive zabudować?
While English simply says an idea to enclose, Polish requires a conjunction to connect the noun pomysł (idea) to the infinitive action. Using żeby (in order to / so that) is the standard way to express this connection, acting as a bridge between the noun and the verb.
Does the word za in Co za have anything to do with the prefix za- on the verb?
No, they are completely unrelated here. In the fixed exclamation Co za (What a...), za does not carry its literal meaning of behind. The phrase is just a common idiom that is always followed by the nominative case, which is why we see wspaniały pomysł in its basic dictionary form.
Why does ten pusty plac look like it is in the nominative case if it is the direct object?
It is actually in the accusative case, which is required by the verb zabudować. However, because plac (square or plaza) is a masculine inanimate noun, its accusative form is identical to its nominative form. This rule also applies to the adjectives and pronouns attached to it, like ten and pusty.
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