Breakdown of Zacznijmy pakować walizki na nowy semestr!
nowy
new
na
on, at / to (motion toward) / for (a meal) / for (waiting for)
walizka
suitcase
zacząć
to start
pakować
to pack
semestr
the semester
Questions & Answers about Zacznijmy pakować walizki na nowy semestr!
Why do we use the imperfective verb pakować right after the perfective verb zacznijmy?
When you use a phasal verb (a verb about starting, finishing, or continuing an action), the second verb must always be in its imperfective form. Even though the act of starting (zacznijmy) is a one-time, completed action (perfective), the packing itself is viewed as an ongoing process that you are beginning, so pakować stays imperfective.
What form of the verb is zacznijmy?
It is the imperative (command) form for the first person plural (we). It translates to "let's start." You can spot this by the -my ending attached to the command base of the perfective verb zacząć (to start).
Why does the word for suitcases end in -i here (walizki)?
The suitcases are the direct object of the action (they are what we are packing), so they take the Accusative case. For feminine nouns like walizka, the plural Accusative form is exactly the same as the plural Nominative, changing the final -a to an -i or -y. Because the base ends in -k, it takes an -i, becoming walizki.
Why do we use na nowy semestr instead of dla to mean "for the new semester"?
In Polish, when you are preparing, packing, or getting ready for a specific event, purpose, or time period, you typically use the preposition na followed by the Accusative case. Since semestr is a masculine inanimate noun, its Accusative form looks exactly like its basic dictionary form, so nowy semestr doesn't change.
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