Breakdown of Gdy nadchodzi sztorm, każdy chce wrócić zdrów.
chcieć
to want
gdy
when (conjunction, = kiedy, more written)
każdy
every, each; everyone
wrócić
to return, to come back (perfective)
nadchodzić
to approach
sztorm
the storm
zdrów
healthy (short form)
Questions & Answers about Gdy nadchodzi sztorm, każdy chce wrócić zdrów.
Why do we use zdrów here instead of the regular adjective zdrowy?
zdrów is a predicative short-form adjective. While zdrowy is normally used to modify a noun directly, zdrów is used here to describe the state of the subject as the action happens, translating well to the phrase safe and sound. Note that zdrów is only for masculine subjects; if the subject were feminine, you would just use the standard adjective zdrowa.
Is there a difference between sztorm and burza?
Yes, there is a big difference in context! sztorm specifically refers to a severe storm at sea with high winds and waves. A burza is a typical thunderstorm you experience on land. Because this sentence uses sztorm, it implies the people wanting to return safely are sailors or out on the water.
Why does the sentence use the singular verb chce when it talks about everyone?
Why is the first verb nadchodzi imperfective, but wrócić is perfective?
nadchodzi is imperfective because the storm is in the ongoing process of approaching. On the other hand, wrócić is perfective because the focus is on the one-time, completed action of successfully making it back.
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