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Polish Grammar: Chapter VI.
Defining
Tips and notes.Nouns: The Instrumental case
The Instrumental case (Instr.) is used to express the means (or the instrument - hence the name) by which something is done.
The Instrumental case is essential when defining things. If you want to describe something by means of a noun (as if you were putting “=” between the two things), the noun should be in the Instrumental case.
Verbs that are used for defining things include the most fundamental verb – być (to be), which is almost always followed by the Instrumental case.
The Instrumental case is essential when defining things. If you want to describe something by means of a noun (as if you were putting “=” between the two things), the noun should be in the Instrumental case.
Verbs that are used for defining things include the most fundamental verb – być (to be), which is almost always followed by the Instrumental case.
Być (to be) – conjugation
| Person | być (to be) |
|---|---|
| ja (I) | jestem |
| ty (singular you) | jesteś |
| on / ona / ono (he / she / it) | jest |
| my (we) | jesteśmy |
| wy (plural you) | jesteście |
| oni (they) | są |
The Instrumental endings
The Instrumental form is created in several ways, depending on the gender of the declined noun.
For masculine nouns, you add the ending -em (or -iem after k and some other consonants).
Note that apart from adding an ending, declension may involve a change in the root of the noun, as it is in the case of chłopiec and pies, where the -ie segment disappears in all cases other than the Nominative.
In the case of feminine nouns, you arrive at the Instrumental form by changing the final -a into -ą.
When it comes to neuter nouns, you have to delete the final -o and replace it with -em (or -iem after k and some other consonants).
Note that zwierzę is an exception – an additional consonant appears before the ending.
For masculine nouns, you add the ending -em (or -iem after k and some other consonants).
| Noun (masculine) | He is + Instrumental |
|---|---|
| chłopiec (boy) | On jest chłopcem. |
| człowiek (human) | On jest człowiekiem. |
| pies (dog) | On jest psem. |
In the case of feminine nouns, you arrive at the Instrumental form by changing the final -a into -ą.
| Noun (feminine) | She is + Instrumental |
|---|---|
| kobieta (woman) | Ona jest kobietą. |
| dziewczynka (girl) | Ona jest dziewczynką. |
| ryba (fish) | Ona jest rybą. |
When it comes to neuter nouns, you have to delete the final -o and replace it with -em (or -iem after k and some other consonants).
| Noun (neuter) | It is + Instrumental |
|---|---|
| dziecko (child) | Ono jest dzieckiem. |
| zwierzę (animal) | Ono jest zwierzęciem |
| lustro (mirror) | Ono jest lustrem. |
Defining: to + Nominative
Another way of defining things is using to + a noun in the Nominative. This method is quite common, and definitely easier to use for learners.
There is, however, one crucial difference: you usually cannot use this construction with pronouns. Sentences such as On to chłopiec or Ona to dziewczynka sound rather sloppy.
Using it with nouns is easy – all of them are in the Nominative form:
There is, however, one crucial difference: you usually cannot use this construction with pronouns. Sentences such as On to chłopiec or Ona to dziewczynka sound rather sloppy.
Using it with nouns is easy – all of them are in the Nominative form:
- Tygrys to kot. (Literally: The tiger is a cat, in this case more like: Tigers are cats)
- Pies to zwierzę. (The dog is an animal or Dogs are animals)
- Zupa to jedzenie. (Soup is food)
Asking questions
Unlike English, Polish does not have verbs that would be used as auxiliary verbs when asking questions such as: Are you a boy? or Do you eat meat?
However, there is a word which you can use to start questions: the interrogative particle czy.
Forming questions with czy is rather easy: just place it at the beginning of the sentence. The word order remains the same, you just use rising intonation to mark that it is a question.
But questions can also be formed in another, even more simple way: by simply adding a question mark at the end of the sentence (or using rising intonation). No need to change the word order.
Some of the sentences used in this skill (and in the examples here) may seem a bit far-fetched. However, what matters the most is their purpose – teaching you the basic grammar rules while practicing basic vocabulary.
However, there is a word which you can use to start questions: the interrogative particle czy.
Forming questions with czy is rather easy: just place it at the beginning of the sentence. The word order remains the same, you just use rising intonation to mark that it is a question.
- On jest chłopcem. -> Czy on jest chłopcem? (He is a boy. -> Is he a boy?)
- Pies pije wodę. -> Czy pies pije wodę? (The dog is drinking water. -> Is the dog drinking water?)
But questions can also be formed in another, even more simple way: by simply adding a question mark at the end of the sentence (or using rising intonation). No need to change the word order.
- Ona ma dziecko. -> Ona ma dziecko? (She has a child. -> Does she have a child? / She has a child?)
- On lubi mleko. -> On lubi mleko? (He likes milk. -> Does he like milk? / He likes milk?)
Some of the sentences used in this skill (and in the examples here) may seem a bit far-fetched. However, what matters the most is their purpose – teaching you the basic grammar rules while practicing basic vocabulary.
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