Breakdown of Czy twoim marzeniem jest zostać sławnym muzykiem?
być
to be
czy
[question particle]
twój
your
zostać
to become
Questions & Answers about Czy twoim marzeniem jest zostać sławnym muzykiem?
Why is sławnym muzykiem in the Instrumental case?
The verb zostać (to become) requires the noun phrase that follows it to be in the Instrumental case. The base phrase sławny muzyk (famous musician) changes its endings to sławnym muzykiem to match this rule.
Why is twoim marzeniem (your dream) also in the Instrumental case?
In Polish, when using the verb być (here as jest) to connect a subject with a describing noun, that describing noun takes the Instrumental case. The real subject here is the action zostać sławnym muzykiem (to become a famous musician). Because you are saying that this action is twoje marzenie (your dream), that noun phrase changes to the Instrumental twoim marzeniem.
I've seen zostać used to mean 'to stay'. How do I know it means 'to become' here?
Zostać has two main meanings. The trick is to look at what comes next. If it is followed by a place, it means 'to stay' (like zostać w domu - to stay at home). But when it is followed by a person, profession, or role in the Instrumental case, like sławnym muzykiem here, it always means 'to become'.
What is the base dictionary form (Nominative case) of twoim marzeniem?