Breakdown of Wysłałam list motywacyjny i czekam na odpowiedź.
i
and
na
on, at / to (motion toward) / for (a meal) / for (waiting for)
czekać
to wait
odpowiedź
answer
wysłać
to send
list motywacyjny
cover letter (m)
Questions & Answers about Wysłałam list motywacyjny i czekam na odpowiedź.
Why is the past tense verb wysłałam and not wysłałem?
Does list motywacyjny literally mean "motivational letter"?
Yes, exactly. While English uses "cover letter" for job applications, Polish literally calls it a "motivating letter".
Why doesn't the ending of list motywacyjny change, given it is the direct object?
It is in the accusative case, which is used for direct objects. However, list is a masculine inanimate noun, and for these nouns, the accusative form looks identical to the basic nominative dictionary form.
Why doesn't odpowiedź have a typical feminine accusative ending like -ę after the preposition na?
The verb phrase czekać na (to wait for) does require the accusative case. But odpowiedź belongs to a group of feminine nouns that end in a consonant rather than -a. For these specific nouns, the accusative form is identical to the nominative.
Why do we mix the perfective wysłałam with the imperfective czekam in one sentence?
This combination perfectly describes the reality of the situation. Wysłałam is perfective because the sending is a completely finished action in the past. Czekam is imperfective because the waiting is an ongoing, unfinished process in the present.
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