Breakdown of Wracam z miasta, gdzie skończyłem studia.
gdzie
where
miasto
city
wracać
to return
skończyć
to finish
Questions & Answers about Wracam z miasta, gdzie skończyłem studia.
Why use gdzie here instead of a relative pronoun like w którym?
In Polish, just like in English, you can use gdzie (where) to refer back to a place. It means exactly the same thing as w którym (in which), but it is much easier to use because you do not have to match the gender and case of the noun miasta.
Why is it z miasta and not z miastem?
The preposition z means 'from' or 'out of' when it is followed by the genitive case. Since the nominative is miasto (a neuter noun), its genitive form is miasta. If you used the instrumental case (z miastem), it would mean 'with the city'.
Why use the perfective verb skończyłem instead of the imperfective kończyłem?
You use the perfective skończyłem to show that the action is completely done and the studies are finished. If you used the imperfective kończyłem, it would mean you 'were finishing' your studies, focusing on the process rather than the completed result.
Why is studia translated as 'university studies'? Could I just say szkoła?
In Polish, the word studia specifically refers to higher education at a university or college. It is a plural-only noun, which is why it takes the plural accusative form here. If you were talking about finishing high school or primary school, you would instead say skończyłem szkołę.