Breakdown of Szef często zaprasza nas na obiad.
często
often
obiad
dinner / lunch (midday meal)
na
on, at / to (motion toward) / for (a meal) / for (waiting for)
szef
boss (m)
zapraszać
to invite
nas
us
Questions & Answers about Szef często zaprasza nas na obiad.
Why do we use nas here, and does it have a short and long form like other pronouns?
nas means "us" and is the accusative case of my (we). It is the direct object of the verb zaprasza (invites), so it takes the accusative case. Unlike the singular pronouns you are learning in this lesson (like cię or go), nas only has one form. There is no separate short or long version.
Can I put the pronoun nas at the very end of the sentence?
It is much better to keep it right after the verb. Short pronouns like nas, cię, or go usually avoid the very end of a sentence. You would only put nas at the end if you wanted to put a very strong, dramatic emphasis on it, like saying "The boss often invites US (and not them)."
Why is it na obiad? Does na always mean "to"?
The preposition na usually means "on", but when talking about meals or events, it translates to "to" or "for". The verb zapraszać (to invite) pairs with na plus the accusative case to show what you are invited to. Because obiad is a masculine inanimate noun (a non-living thing), its accusative form looks exactly the same as its dictionary form.
Does obiad mean lunch or dinner?
It is a bit of both! Obiad is the main, warm meal of the day in Poland, typically eaten between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Depending on your schedule and when you eat it, it translates best as a late lunch or an early dinner.
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