Question 1

Why is the conditional ending -by attached to gdy in the first half, but to the verb założył in the second half?

Accepted Answer

In Polish, the conditional particle -by loves to attach to the first available conjunction or particle in a clause. In the 'if' clause, it attaches directly to gdy to form gdyby. In the main clause, there is no conjunction, so it attaches to the verb, making założyłby.

Question 2

Why is the word for millionaire written as milionerem instead of the basic form milioner?

Accepted Answer

The verb zostać, when it means 'to become', requires the noun that follows it to be in the Instrumental case. Since milioner is a masculine noun, it takes the -em ending.

Question 3

I learned that zostać means 'to stay'. How do I know it means 'to become' in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

You can tell by what follows it! Zostać means 'to stay' when followed by a location, but it means 'to become' when followed by a noun or adjective describing a new state or profession. This new state is almost always in the Instrumental case, like milionerem here.

Question 4

I know założyć means 'to put on' clothes. Does it have another meaning here?

Accepted Answer

Yes! While założyć is commonly used for putting on clothes, it also means 'to start', 'to found', or 'to establish' when talking about a business, an organization, or a bank account.

Question 5

Why is szalony biznes in the Accusative form if it looks exactly like the dictionary form?

Accepted Answer

It is the direct object of the verb założyć, so it must be in the Accusative case. However, biznes is a masculine inanimate noun. For masculine inanimate nouns, the Accusative form is identical to the Nominative dictionary form.

Gdyby nagle został milionerem, założyłby szalony biznes.

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