Breakdown of To głupia wymówka, bo mogliście zdążyć na pociąg.
to
this
na
on, at / to (motion toward) / for (a meal) / for (waiting for)
pociąg
train
móc
to be able to
bo
because
głupi
stupid
zdążyć
to make it in time
wymówka
excuse
Questions & Answers about To głupia wymówka, bo mogliście zdążyć na pociąg.
Why is the verb mogliście used here, and how is it formed from móc?
Mogliście means "you (plural) could". The verb móc (can/to be able to) has a tricky past tense. For groups of people that include at least one male, the stem changes to mogli-. Then we add the ending -ście to show it means "you (plural)". If the group consisted only of women, the stem would be mogł- instead, making it mogłyście.
Why does the first part of the sentence say To głupia wymówka instead of To jest głupia wymówka?
Why is zdążyć in its dictionary form here?
Just like in English, when you use a modal verb that expresses ability or possibility—in this case, mogliście (you could)—the main action verb that follows it must stay in its infinitive (dictionary) form. That's why we use zdążyć (to make it in time).
Why do we use the preposition na before pociąg?
The verb zdążyć pairs with the preposition na when you are talking about catching transport or arriving at an event in time. This combination requires the Accusative case for the target. Because pociąg (train) is a non-living masculine noun, its Accusative form looks exactly the same as its Nominative (dictionary) form.
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