Breakdown of Pani Kowalska martwi się tym, że ten trend wraca.
to
this
pani
madam / Mrs.
ten
this (m)
że
that
Questions & Answers about Pani Kowalska martwi się tym, że ten trend wraca.
Why is there a tym before the że clause?
In English, we just say "worried that". In Polish, verbs often need a "pointer" word (an antecedent) before a że clause to bridge the grammar. It is as if the sentence literally says she is worried by this, that the trend is returning. The pointer is always a form of the pronoun to.
Why is the pointer word specifically in the form tym?
Because the verb martwić się (to worry) requires the Instrumental case for the source of the worry. The Instrumental form of to is tym. If the main verb required a different case, the pointer word would change accordingly (for example, to tego if the verb required the Genitive case).
Can I leave out się and just say Pani Kowalska martwi tym, że...?
No, się is essential here. Martwić się means "to be worried" or "to worry oneself". If you drop the reflexive pronoun, the verb martwić means "to cause worry to someone else" (for example: Ten trend martwi panią Kowalską - This trend worries Mrs. Kowalska).
Is the comma before że required?
Yes! In Polish, a comma is strictly required to separate the main clause from a subordinate clause introduced by words like że (that) or żeby (so that). Even though English usually skips the comma here, Polish never does.