Breakdown of Miałem kupić zimną wodę gazowaną.
woda
water
zimny
cold
kupić
to buy (perfective)
mieć
to be supposed to
Questions & Answers about Miałem kupić zimną wodę gazowaną.
Why is zimną before wodę but gazowaną is after it?
This highlights the difference between descriptive and classifying adjectives. Zimną (cold) is a descriptive adjective showing a temporary state or quality, so it comes before the noun. Gazowaną (sparkling) defines the exact type or category of water, making it a classifying adjective, which belongs after the noun in Polish.
Why does miałem mean 'I was supposed to' here instead of 'I had'?
When the verb mieć (to have) is paired with an infinitive verb like kupić (to buy), it changes meaning from possession to obligation. In the past tense, it usually translates to 'was supposed to' or 'had to'. Note that miałem tells us the speaker is masculine; a female speaker would say miałam kupić.
Why do the words zimną wodę gazowaną end in -ą and -ę?
They are in the accusative case because they are the direct object of the action. The base noun woda is feminine singular, so it takes the -ę ending in the accusative. Any adjectives attached to a feminine accusative noun, whether they come before or after it, must take the -ą ending.
Could I use the imperfective verb kupować instead of kupić here?