Breakdown of Ten obszar znajduje się poza terytorium kraju.
ten
this (m)
kraj
country
znajdować się
to be located
poza
outside (of something)
obszar
the area
terytorium
the territory
Questions & Answers about Ten obszar znajduje się poza terytorium kraju.
Why doesn't the word terytorium change its ending after the preposition poza?
The preposition poza requires the instrumental case when describing a static location (where something is). However, terytorium is a neuter noun ending in -um. In Polish, these types of nouns (like centrum or muzeum) do not change their forms anywhere in the singular. So, terytorium is actually in the instrumental case here, it just looks exactly like the dictionary form!
Does poza always take the instrumental case?
Not always! When poza describes a static location (like in this sentence, where the area is already located), it takes the instrumental case. But if it describes motion towards an outside limit (like moving or throwing something outside a boundary), it takes the accusative case instead.
Would it be correct to just say jest instead of znajduje się?
Yes, you could say Ten obszar jest poza terytorium kraju and it would be perfectly correct. However, znajduje się (literally "finds itself") is the standard and very natural way to say "is located" or "is situated". You will see it constantly on maps, in news, and in formal descriptions.
Why is the word for country (kraj) in the genitive case (kraju) here?
The genitive case is used here to show possession, equivalent to the English "of the country" or "country's". In Polish, you simply place the noun in the genitive case directly after the thing being owned, making terytorium kraju mean "territory of the country".
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