Polish verbs present tense
Choose the Polish present tense verb conjugation.
Category: Polish grammar
Polishverbs past tense
Choose the Polish past tense verb conjugation.
Choose the Polish future tense verb conjugation.
Polish grammar questions
Choose the Polish number or question.
Polish noun case identification
Polish Grammar objective
The objective of this lesson is to understand, what is a noun case, which noun case to use in a sentence, to prepare you for how to read the Polish grammar case tables.
Polish Noun endings depend on three things
- Number: singular or plural
- Gender: masculine, feminine or neuter
- Case: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, locative, vocative.
Number
Singular or plural. Example: house or houses.
Polish noun genders
Nouns have one of three genders in Polish. They are masculine, feminine or neuter
Masculine nouns
Masculine nouns usually end with a consonant, but there are some exceptions, usually relating to occupations:
Mezczyzna – man, Kierowca – driver, Dentysta – dentist.
Feminine nouns
Feminine nouns usually end in the letter a. Here are some common exceptions: Pani – Mrs, lady, Noc – night, Sól – salt.
Neuter nouns
Neuter nouns usually end in o or e. Lózko – bed, Wejscie – entrance, Imie – first name. Polish words relating to occupations normally have both masculine and feminine forms. Student, Studentka – Nauczyciel, Nauczycielka.
Polish grammar cases
The purpose of this section is to understand what a case is and when to use which of the seven Polish cases. A case is the context the noun is used in the sentence. The context of the noun in the sentence will determine which case category it is classified to. To understand these Polish case classifications is the most difficult part of Polish grammar, so do your best.
Polish, like Latin or Russian, has cases. Cases have many functions, but they mostly allow the speaker to convey ideas with fewer words, as the endings on the words tell the listener what the sentence is about. Some people argue Polish cases really replace or reiterate English prepositions. But there is more to it, as you will see. Which case to use is really based on the context of the sentence.
What are the most important cases? The most common Polish cases are nominative (dictionary form) and accusative, which account for almost 65% of the Polish cases. The nominative, accusative, genitive, and locative account for over 90% of the Polish cases!
Does English have cases? Yes. English used to be rich with cases before the Norman invasion in 1066 A.D, now it has only remnants.
Let’s look at two examples of English pronoun cases, I and she. “I own this house”, “This is MY house”, “This house is MINE”, “This house belongs to ME”. This is the same word but in different ways. The form changes with the case it is used in. More: “SHE is the one I love”, “I am in love with HER”.
Although not a true case another English example is the use of ‘s to show possession. “This is Mark’s house.” The Polish case is similar: Ten jest dom Marka. The noun ending of ‘Mark’ changes in both languages.
Polish grammar cases in detail
Nominative
Subject of the sentence. Answers the questions: What is it? Who is it? It is a Park. What is it? A park. It is Mark. Who is it? Mark. The park is green. What is green? The park. The man is walking. Who is walking? the man.
Usually used with the verb “to be”.
Genitive
The genitive case has five uses:
- Indicated possession, replaces the English word for ‘of’, answers the question: Whose is it? Of what is it? Mark’s house (or the house of Mark). The cat’s tail.
- When the negative ‘nie’ (not) is used in what would normally be the accusative case. Answers the question: What is not here? I do not have a bike.
- Follows certain verbs such as słuchać (to listen to) and szukać (to look for) I am listing to the CD player. I am looking for my watch
- Used after the prepositions od( from, since) do (to, into) dla (for), kolo (near, by) z/ze (out of, from). I am going to Krakow . I have been happy since my birthday.
- Used to express quantity, There are many boxes, There are only a few eggs.
Dative
Generally related to the English preposition “to”, that is doing something “to”.
Answers the question: to what? To who? I am giving the book to Marta I am lending Marta the book. Used with verbs like Dawać-give to Pomagać-help to Pozyczać-lend to.
Accusative
The direct object of most verbs; the object of some prepositions.
Answers the questions: What is the action is about? Whom the action is about? I see the tree. I see what? The tree. I see Mark. I see who? Mark. We would like to visit Krakow. What would you like to visit? Krakow. I have a new dress. What do you have? A new dress.
Most common verbs used: I see, I have, I like.
Other examples: I am going to buy a plane ticket. I am going to buy what? A plane ticket. I am going to sell my car. I am going to sell what? My car.
The accusative also follows preposition that indicate going towards or motion. Przez-through Na-on, to, towards, for I am going to the market. I am waiting for my love. I will be on vacation. I am walking through the building.
Instrumental
Generally related to the English preposition ‘with’ or ‘by’ when referring to transportation.
Answers the questions-whom am I doing something with? With what am I doing something with? I am talking on the phone with Joseph. I am traveling by train. This is also a case of location, most commonly used with “Z” or with.” also Przed-in front of Nad-above Pod-under, bellow Za- behind.
Locative
Case of location.
Answers the questions: who I am talking about? What is it on?
Used with some prepositions, often showing location. On, about, this is the case of location.” Na-on W-in Przy-by, at Po-after o-about On the plane, On the street, In the building ,We are talking about the movie star.
Vocative
Answers the questions who or what are you calling – rarely used do not learn it.
To call someone from a distance.
Examples of Polish grammar cases with George Washington as the noun.
- Nominative
- This is George Washington.
- Genitive
- George Washington’s house.
- Dative
- I am giving a dollar to George Washington.
- Accusative
- I see George Washington.
- Instrumental
- I am talking with George Washington.
- Locative
- The hat is on George Washington.
- Vocative
- George Washington! Come here. Did you chop down that cherry tree?!
Polish noun case endings
The purpose of this lesson is to show examples of how the endings change in noun cases.
Examples of Polish grammar.
Nominative-
Dom->Dom
House
Samochód -> Samochód
Car
Łąka -> Łąka
Meadow
Ptak -> Ptak
Bird
Drzewo -> Drzewo
Tree
Łyżka -> Łyżka
Spoon
Droga->Droga
Road
Światło->Światło
Light
Twarz->Twarz
Face
Księżyc->Księżyc
Moon
Genitive-
Dom->Domu
House
Samochód -> Samochodu
Car
Łąka -> Łąki
Meadow
Ptak -> Ptaka
Bird
Drzewo -> Drzewa
Tree
Łyżka -> Łyżki
Spoon
Droga->Drogi
Road
Światło->Światła
Light
Twarz->Twarzy
Face
Księżyc->Księżyca
Moon
Dative-
Dom->Domowi
House
Samochód -> Samochódowi
Car
Łąka -> Łące
Meadow
Ptak -> Ptakowi
Bird
Drzewo -> Drzewu
Tree
Łyżka -> Łyżce
Spoon
Droga->Drodze
Road
Światło->Światłu
Light
Twarz->Twarzy
Face
Księżyc->Księżycowi
Moon
Accusative-
Dom->Dom
House
Samochód -> Samochód
Car
Łąka -> Łąkę
Meadow
Ptak -> Ptaka
Bird
Drzewo -> Drzewo
Tree
Łyżka -> Łyżkę
Spoon
Droga->Drogę
Road
Światło->Światło
Light
Twarz->Twarz
Face
Księżyc->Księżyc
Moon
Instrumental-
Dom->Domem
House
Samochód -> Samochódem
Car
Łąka -> Łąką
Meadow
Ptak -> Ptakiem
Bird
Drzewo -> Drzewem
Tree
Łyżka -> Łyżką
Spoon
Droga->Drogą
Road
Światło->Światłem
Light
Twarz->Twarzą
Face
Księżyc->Księżycem
Moon
Locative
Dom->Domu
House
Samochód -> Samochódzie
Car
Łąka -> Łące
Meadow
Ptak -> Ptaku
Bird
Drzewo -> Drzewie
Tree
Łyżka -> Łyżce
Spoon
Droga->Drodze
Road
Światło->Światle
Light
Twarz->Twarzy
Face
Księżyc->Księżycu
Moon
Vocative
Dom->Domie
House
Samochód -> Samochodzie
Car
Łąka -> Łąko
Meadow
Ptak -> Ptaku
Bird
Drzewo -> Drzewo
Tree
Łyżka -> Łyżko
Spoon
Droga->Drogo
Road
Światło->Światło
Light
Twarz->Twarzy
Face
Księżyc->Księżycu
Moon
Polish cases are hard the way you need to learn Polish noun cases is drilling, like I present in the exercises section.
Polish cases in sentences
The purpose of this lesson is to show examples of Polish noun cases.
Polish cases are the hardest, and almost only part of Polish grammar. Once you learn these first few lessons, Polish grammar is easy.
There is no theory here. It is memorizing the noun endings and using them in the right case.
This lesson theory is really just a series of examples of cases in use. Review these examples and then study the table and most important then do the drills. The drills are how you will learn nouns case endings.
Examples of Polish grammar.
Nominative–
It is a house. To jest dom.
It is a flower. To jest kwiatek.
It is a car. To jest samochód.
It is a bridge. To jest most.
It is a dog. To jest pies.
It is water. To jest woda.
It is a circle. To jest koło.
It is circle. To jest koło.
It is a bed. To jest łóżko.
It is a man. To jest mężczyzna.
It is a girl. To jest dziewczynka.
Genitive–
Nie mam parasola.
I do not have an umbrella
Wczoraj spotkałam przyjaciółkę.
Yesterday I meet my friend.
Pijesz za dużo kawy.
You drink too much coffee
Dative–
Oddałam książkę Piotrkowi.
I gave back the book to Peter
Przyglądam się pięknemu obrazowi.
I am staring at the beautiful picture.
Ufam mu.
I trust him.
Accusative–
Widzę ładnego chłopca.
I see the cute boy.
Lubię naturę.
I love nature.
Mam komputer.
I have a computer.
Instrumental-
Idę na spacer z Moniką.
I walking with Monika.
Lubię kawę z cukrem.
I love coffee love with sugar.
Oglądamy film z Nikolasem Cagem.
We are watching a film with Nicholas Cage.
Locative
Ta piosenka jest o rzece.
The song is about the river.
Stoję na moście.
I am standing on bridge.
Rozmawiamy o książce.
We are talking about the book.
Vocative
Mark->Marku!
Mark
Kasia->Kasiu!
Kate
Anta->Aneto!
Annetta
Brat->Bracie!
Brother
Bóg->Boże!
God
Polish Adjective cases
Similar to English, Polish adjectives, nouns usually precede their nouns; however, their forms change to respect their nouns.
Polish adjectives agree in gender, number and case with their respective nouns. For example if the noun is singular, then the adjective will agree with the noun in gender, that is masculine, feminine or neuters, number (singular), and case.
Remember that masculine nouns, have two forms, that is animate, referring to people and animals, and inanimate.
As with noun cases adjectives are a matter of learning the endings and practice.
Here are some examples with dobry.
To byl dobry dzien. It was a good day.
To dobra osoba. This is a good person.
To mieszkanie jest w bardzo dobrym miejscu. This flat is in a very good place.
Szukam dobrej ksiazki. I am looking for a good book.
On byl dobrym czlowiekiem. He was a good man.
Zjadlabym dobre ciastko. I would like to eat a good cake.
Bylem w kawiarni z dobra znajoma. I was in a café with a good acquaintance.
Potrzebuje dobrego programu do nauki jezyka. I need a good program for learning
language.
Nasi sasiedzi to dobrzy szachisci. Our neighbors are good chess players.
Wczoraj sluchalismy dobrych plyt. Yesterday we were listening to good records.
To dobry pomysl. It is a good idea.
Mam w tobie dobrego przyjaciela. In you I have a good friend.
Possessives
Possessive pronouns show to who/what something belongs. As in English possessive pronouns change slightly in case. For example, In English we say. This house in mine. This is my house. It changes in case.
In English our pronouns are: my, your, his/her/its, their our,. However, in Polish again possessive pronouns agree in in case gender and number.
They answer the question – whose does it belong?.
Rozmawiałam z moim szefem o naszym projekciem.
I spoked with my boss about our project.
Dawno nie widziałem mojej siostry ani jej męża.
I didn’t see my sister or her husband for a long time.
Przedstawię cię mojemu przyjacielowi, polubisz go.
I will introduce you to my friend, you will like him.
Pójdę na spacer z moim psem.
I will walk with my dog.
Polish prepositions
Prepositions are usually associated with location or with direction and verbs of motion.
In Polish most preposition are used in the same way as with English. However, there are some important differences, for example with reference to sky and sea. In English we say ‘the sun in the sky’, in Polish it’s the ‘sun is on the sky’. Simlarly in English we say the ‘ship is in the ocean.’ In Polish it is ‘the ship is on the ocean.’
Again its drilling that will let you get used to when to use these.
Further prepositions indicate the case. For example:
The genetive case is used with the following.
do for
dla to
koło near
naprzeciwko opposite
obrok beside
od from
z/ze on