Breakdown of Cała załoga musi wejść na pokład.
na
on, at / to (motion toward) / for (a meal) / for (waiting for)
musieć
to have to
cały
whole, entire
wejść
to come in, to enter
Questions & Answers about Cała załoga musi wejść na pokład.
Why do we use the singular cała (whole) here instead of a plural word for "all"?
Even though a załoga (crew) is made up of many people, it is a singular noun in Polish. To talk about the entire group, you use the singular adjective cała (whole or entire) rather than a plural word like wszyscy.
Why is the verb wejść used for "go" in this sentence?
The verb wejść specifically means "to enter" or "to go up onto" on foot. Since going onto a ship's deck involves stepping up and onto a surface, Polish uses wejść na. This combination, wejść na pokład, is also the standard phrase for "to board" a ship or plane.
Is na pokład in the accusative or locative case here?
It is in the accusative case because it shows motion or direction (where the crew must go). If the sentence was about the crew already being located on the deck, it would use the locative case: na pokładzie.
Can pokład be used for things other than a ship's deck?
Yes! While it means "deck," it is widely used to mean "board" for ships, airplanes, and spacecraft. For example, the English phrase "on board" translates directly to na pokładzie.