Questions & Answers about Dlaczego zupa bez soli nie ma smaku?
Why is it bez soli and not bez sól?
The preposition bez (without) always requires the noun that follows it to be in the Genitive case. The dictionary form of salt is sól, and its Genitive form is soli. Notice how the vowel ó changes to o when the word changes form!
Why does the sentence use smaku instead of smak?
The verb mieć (to have) normally takes the Accusative case for its direct object. However, when you make a verb negative in Polish (here, nie ma), the object must switch to the Genitive case. The Genitive form of the masculine noun smak takes the -u ending, becoming smaku.
Does bez soli describe the soup or the verb?
It describes the soup. In Polish, just like in English, a prepositional phrase like bez soli (without salt) can sit right next to the noun it modifies. So zupa bez soli translates directly to soup without salt.
Wait, isn't the -i ending in soli usually for plural nouns?