Questions & Answers about Autobus dojechał do przystanku bardzo późno.
What is the difference between jechał and dojechał?
Jechał is the basic, imperfective verb for going by vehicle (The bus was driving/going). Dojechał adds the prefix do-, making it a perfective verb that focuses on the result of successfully reaching a destination (The bus arrived/got to).
Notice how we have do- on the verb and then the word do right after it. Is that a coincidence?
Not at all! Verbs of motion with the prefix do- (which means reaching a goal) are almost always followed by the preposition do + the Genitive case to state the destination. You will see this double do pattern very often when talking about arriving somewhere.
Why is the word for bus stop spelled przystanku here instead of przystanek?
The preposition do requires the Genitive case. The dictionary form of the word is przystanek. When we add the Genitive ending -u to this masculine noun, the final e drops out. This disappearing vowel is called a 'fleeting e' and is extremely common in Polish nouns ending in -ek.
Could I say bardzo późny instead of bardzo późno?