Breakdown of Czy ci nowi posłowie kupili sobie drogie samochody?
samochód
car
czy
[question particle]
ten
this (m)
nowy
new
Questions & Answers about Czy ci nowi posłowie kupili sobie drogie samochody?
Why does the word poseł change to posłowie in the plural?
Posłowie is the virile (masculine personal) plural form of poseł (member of parliament). It uses the -owie suffix, which is typically used for titles, professions, and family members. Notice that the second e in poseł drops out when adding the ending; this is a common pattern called a mobile 'e'.
Why do we use ci nowi instead of te nowe?
Because the subject posłowie refers to people (specifically, a group containing at least one man). Adjectives and pronouns must match this virile gender. The word ten (this) changes to ci (these), and nowy (new) changes to nowi.
What is the purpose of the word sobie in this sentence?
Sobie means 'for themselves' here. It is the dative case form of the reflexive pronoun się. While English often just says 'bought expensive cars', Polish frequently uses sobie to emphasize that someone did an action for their own benefit or pleasure.
Why does the verb kupili end in -li rather than -ły?