Breakdown of Dzięki pięciu rycerzom magia działa.
pięć
five
działać
to function
dzięki
thanks to (+ Dative)
rycerz
knight
Questions & Answers about Dzięki pięciu rycerzom magia działa.
Why is the number pięć changed to pięciu in this sentence?
The preposition dzięki (thanks to) requires the following words to be in the Dative case. The Dative form of the number pięć (five) is pięciu.
Why does the word for knights (rycerze) become rycerzom here?
Just like the number five, the noun must be in the Dative case because of dzięki. In Polish, almost all plural nouns in the Dative case take the very predictable -om ending, so the base word rycerz becomes rycerzom.
I know dzięki means "thanks" as a casual greeting. How does it work here?
When dzięki is used right before a noun or pronoun in the Dative case, it acts as a preposition meaning "thanks to" or "owing to".
Can I use pracuje instead of działa for the magic working?
No, you need działa here. The verb pracować (to work) is used for people or animals doing labor. The verb działać means to function, take effect, or operate, which is exactly what magic, a machine, or medicine does.