"It was a strange friendship."

Translation: To była dziwna przyjaźń.

[random8042]

If you are using "to" why is the verb not in the neuter?

[vytah]

The verb matches the noun, not "to".

[immery]

I think, that when you can replace "it" with 'this/that" it translates to "TO", if you can replace it with a noun it= on/ona/ono depending on noun (and in declension).
if you cant replace "it" with either , then you skip it.

(it's just a theory I made up, so may not be 100% accurate)

[Arnoldpitt]

Is there no Polish word derived from either kolega or Przyjciel for friendship as friendship is derived from friend

[alik1989]

Both przyjaźń and przyjaciel are derived from the same root.

[petervaughan]

Why can it not be "Była dziwna przyjaźń"?

[Jellei]

Without the dummy pronoun "to" as the subject, this means "There was a strange friendship". Similar to "Once upon a time there was a princess...".

[FredFukada]

I am a bit confused. With to being the subject, shouldn´t the verb be conjugated było?

[Celioluzverde]

I think we use BYŁA (female) to match PRZYJAŹŃ, which is female.

TO is not a demonstrative pronoun here.

TEN, TA, TO + person or object = THIS person or object

TO BYL, TO BYŁA, TO BYŁO = IT WAS.