Breakdown of Idę na balkon, na którym jest mój szef.
być
to be
iść
to go
mój
my
na
on, at / to (motion toward) / for (a meal) / for (waiting for)
szef
boss (m)
który
which, who (relative)
balkon
balcony
Questions & Answers about Idę na balkon, na którym jest mój szef.
Why do we use na którym in this sentence?
The word którym is a relative pronoun (meaning "which") that refers back to balkon, a masculine noun. Because the boss is physically located on the balcony, we use the preposition na paired with the Locative case. For a masculine noun, the Locative form of który is którym.
Why does the first half use na balkon but the second half uses na którym? Aren't they both after na?
Yes, but they require different cases because of what is happening in each clause! The first part, Idę na balkon, shows motion toward a destination, so the preposition na takes the Accusative case. The second part, na którym jest mój szef, describes a static location (where the boss currently is), so na forces the Locative case.
Is the comma before na którym mandatory?
Why is mój szef at the very end instead of saying na którym mój szef jest?
Polish word order is quite flexible, and the most important new information often goes at the very end of a sentence for emphasis. Putting the verb jest before the subject mój szef sounds highly natural here because it highlights who is on the balcony.
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