Breakdown of Idziemy do banku, a wieczorem do apteki.
iść
to go
wieczorem
in the evening
a
and / whereas (contrast)
do
to
bank
bank
apteka
pharmacy
Questions & Answers about Idziemy do banku, a wieczorem do apteki.
Why do we say do banku instead of do bank?
The preposition do (to) always requires the following noun to be in the Genitive case. For many non-living masculine nouns like bank, the Genitive ending is -u, which gives us do banku.
Why does apteka change to apteki here?
Just like with the bank, the preposition do forces the feminine noun apteka (pharmacy) into the Genitive case. Feminine nouns ending in -a usually change to -y or -i. Because apteka ends in a -k, Polish spelling rules require us to use -i, making it do apteki.
Why is 'and' translated as a here instead of i?
While i simply connects two things, a is used to show a slight contrast or shift in focus. Here, the speaker is introducing a change of plans or a new timeframe, shifting from what they are doing right now to what they will do in the evening.
How does wieczór become wieczorem?
The noun wieczór means evening. By adding the -em ending, it changes to mean 'in the evening'. Polish often uses this specific ending (which belongs to a grammar concept called the Instrumental case) to turn parts of the day or seasons into time expressions.
Why is the word for 'we' missing before idziemy?
In Polish, the verb itself tells you who is doing the action. The -my ending on idziemy already means 'we are going'. You only need to add the pronoun my (we) if you want to add special emphasis or clarify who you are talking about.
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