Breakdown of Oboje zawodników gra świetnie.
grać
to play
świetnie
great!, excellently
oboje
both (mixed)
zawodnik
player (m)
Questions & Answers about Oboje zawodników gra świetnie.
Why use oboje instead of obaj or obie here?
Oboje is a collective numeral used for mixed-gender groups. In this sentence, using oboje tells us that the two players are a mixed pair (one man and one woman). If they were both men, we would use obaj zawodnicy. If they were both women, it would be obie zawodniczki.
Why is the noun zawodników in the genitive case instead of the nominative?
When you use collective numerals like oboje in the subject of a sentence, the noun that follows must be in the genitive case. Since there are two players, we use the genitive plural form zawodników.
If there are two players, why is the verb gra in the singular form?
This is a strict rule in Polish grammar: subjects starting with collective numerals always take a third-person singular verb in the present tense. Even though the players are logically plural, the grammatical subject oboje forces us to say gra instead of grają.
If we changed this sentence to the past tense, what form would the verb take?
In the past tense, collective numerals require the verb to be in the third-person neuter singular form. So, to say that both players played great, you would say Oboje zawodników grało świetnie.