Breakdown of Czy możesz wynieść śmieci?
czy
[question particle]
móc
to be able to
śmieć
garbage
wynieść
to carry out
Questions & Answers about Czy możesz wynieść śmieci?
How does the prefix in wynieść change the meaning of the base verb nieść?
The base verb nieść means to carry something by hand in one direction. Adding the prefix wy- (which means out) creates wynieść, meaning to carry out. It also makes the verb perfective, focusing on the completed result of getting the garbage out of the house.
Could I use przynieść instead of wynieść in this sentence?
No, because the prefixes give opposite directions! The prefix przy- implies movement towards the speaker, so przynieść means to bring something here. Since you want the garbage taken away and out of the house, you need wy- to make wynieść.
Does wynieść mean I have to carry the trash by hand?
Yes. Because it is built from nieść, it specifically means carrying something on foot, usually in your hands or arms. If you were loading the garbage into a truck to drive it away, you would use a verb based on driving or transporting (wieźć), such as wywieźć.
Why is wynieść in its dictionary form (infinitive) instead of being conjugated for the you form?
The sentence already has a conjugated verb: możesz (you can). Just like in English, when you have a modal verb like móc (to be able to), the second verb in the chain stays in the infinitive form.
What case is śmieci (garbage) in this sentence?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb (the thing being carried). The word is plural here (a single piece of trash is a śmieć). For inanimate plural nouns, the accusative case looks exactly the same as the nominative dictionary form.
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