Breakdown of Każdy potomek nosi to brzemię.
to
this
nosić
to carry (habitually / multidirectional)
każdy
every, each; everyone
potomek
descendant
Questions & Answers about Każdy potomek nosi to brzemię.
Since brzemię is the direct object of the verb, why doesn't its ending change?
Brzemię (burden) is a neuter noun ending in -ę. For all neuter nouns, the accusative case (which marks the direct object) is always identical to the nominative case. Therefore, it looks exactly like its dictionary form here.
How does the noun brzemię behave in other grammatical cases?
Like other neuter nouns ending in -ę (such as imię or plemię), it expands its stem by adding -n- in most other cases. For example, the genitive singular is brzemienia, and the instrumental singular is brzemieniem.
Why is the verb nosi used here instead of niesie?
Both verbs mean to carry, but nosić is used for habitual, continuous, or abstract carrying, which perfectly fits carrying a metaphorical burden. Nieść is used for a concrete, one-way action, like carrying a physical box across the room.
Why do we use to before brzemię instead of ten?
The translation for this must match the grammatical gender of the noun. Even though brzemię doesn't end in the typical neuter -o or -e, it is still a neuter noun. Therefore, it requires the neuter pronoun to, while ten is reserved for masculine nouns.