Breakdown of Jechali piętnaście kilometrów przez las.
jechać
to travel
las
forest
piętnaście
fifteen
przez
through, across
kilometr
kilometer
Questions & Answers about Jechali piętnaście kilometrów przez las.
Why is the word for kilometers kilometrów here instead of the standard plural kilometry?
In Polish, numerals 5 and above (like piętnaście) force the noun that follows them into the Genitive plural case. The Genitive plural of the masculine noun kilometr is kilometrów.
We learned that higher numbers usually take a singular neuter verb. Why is the verb plural (jechali) here?
That rule only applies when the number itself is the subject of the sentence (for example, if fifteen cars were doing the driving). In this sentence, the hidden subject is oni (they). Because 'they' are the ones driving, the verb takes the standard 3rd-person plural form jechali.
Why use the imperfective verb jechali instead of a perfective verb like pojechali?
The imperfective jechali is used here because the sentence focuses on the duration and process of the journey. They 'were driving' for a continuous stretch of fifteen kilometers, so we use the imperfective aspect to show the ongoing action in the past.
Does the preposition przez change the case of las (forest)?
Yes, przez (through) requires the noun to be in the Accusative case. However, because las is a masculine inanimate noun, its Accusative form looks exactly the same as its basic dictionary form.
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