CLICK ON THE PHOTOS BELOW TO LISTEN TO THE DIALOGUES.

Polish pronouns can substitute for a noun, adjective, numeral and adverb; in the sentence serves as an entity, predicative, attribute, object or adverbial.

Polish pronouns include personal pronouns (refer to people speaking, people spoken to, or people or things spoken about), indefinite pronouns, relative pronouns (connect parts of sentences) and reflexive pronouns (in which the object of a verb is being acted on by verb’s subject).

TABLES OF POLISH IRREGULAR FORMS

PERSONAL PRONOUNS

SINGULAR

PLURAL

REFLEXIVE PRONOUN

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS

Likewise with nikt, nic, ktokolwiek, cokolwiek etc.

Likewise with wiele, niewiele, parę, kilka etc.

Likewise with niczyj, czyjś.

POSSESIVE PRONOUNS

twój declines like mój, the same apllies to the reflexive possesive pronoun swój

wasz declines like nasz; the possesive pronouns jego, jej, ich are invariable

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS

Likewise with tamten, tamta, tamto etc.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

The majority of Polish verbs have two aspects, the imperfective for conveying the periodicity of an action or describing a process, and the perfective for stressing on a single action or a result.

The Polish perfective verbs can only be used in the past and future, while the imperfective can be used in the present tense as well.

Verb answers the questions: co robi?(what does he/she/it do?), co się z nim dzieje? (what happens to him/her/it?), w jakim jest stanie? (what is the condition?).

Verb in a sentence can function as:

• PREDICATE (Polish: orzeczenie): Wazon stoi na stole. – A vase is standing on the table.
• SUBJECT (Polish: podmiot): Tańczyć jest fajnie. – Dancing is fun.
• ATTRIBUTE (Polish: przydawka): Poszedł robić śniadanie.  – He has gone to make a breakfast.

The Polish verbs are divided into:

• PERSONAL: Mój tata je obiad. – A dad is eating dinner.
• NON-PERSONAL these include:

- INFINITIVE: chodzić, mówić

- ADJECTIVAL PARTICIPLES: gotujący, malowany

- ADVERBIAL PARTICIPLES: przejechawszy, podniósłszy, robiąc

- IMPERSONAL FORMS: mówiono, malowano

• TRANSITIVE: lać – być lanym
• INTRANSITIVE: śpiewać głośno
• PERFECTIVE: ugotować, namówić, wyjść
• IMPERFECTIVE: chodzić, tańczyć

Participles are formed of verbs and are divided into:

The rules of forming participles from verbs:

1. Adjectival passive participles are formed only from transitive verbs.
2. Adjectival active participles and adverbial contemporary participles are formed only from imperfective verbs.
3. Adverbial  prior participles are formed from perfective verbs.

Verbs inflect for:

• PERSONS – informs who is a performer of the action,
• TENSES – informs of a tense of the action (past, present, future),
• MODES:

- INDICATIVE MODE – informs of the action that was taking a place, is taking a place and will take a place: biegałem – biegam – będę biegał

- SUBJUNCTIVE MODE – informs that the action`s existence is desirable but uncertain: umyłbym, schowałbym

- IMPERATIVE MODE – warrant: biegnij, umyj, schowaj

• VOICES – we distinguish:

- ACTIVE VOICE - the subject of the active voice is the person performing the act: Mama gotuje obiad. – Mum is cooking dinner.

- PASSIVE VOICE – the entity of the passive voice is a static person because they passively undergo operations: Obiad został ugotowany przez mamę. – Dinner has been cooked by my mum.

- REFLEXIVE VOICE – the entity of the reflexive voice is a person that attracts the action (use the pronoun “się“): Mama ubiera się. – Mum is getting dressed.

Verbs are subjected to conjugation:

There is a list of some key Polish verbs HERE for everyone who wants to find e few more examples of conjugation in the Polish language.

The information generated by the Team of www.learn-polish.org.uk

For all of you who want to become familiar with the Polish names of the months, days and colours we have generated a list of them:

Here comes a  list of Polish cardinal numbers:

LICZEBNIKI GŁÓWNE – CARDINAL NUMBERS

A list of Polish collective numerals:

LICZEBNIKI ZBIOROWE – COLLECTIVE NUMBERS

A list of Polish ordinal numbers:

LICZEBNIKI PORZĄDKOWE – ORDINAL NUMBERS

A list of Polish fractions:

UŁAMKI – FRACTIONS

TIME AND DATE – CZAS I DATY

Here come some Polish key verbs that everybody should learn to be able to have at least a simple conversation with Polish speakers:

Polish key verbs in their imperfective forms

Some examples:

TO BE – być

TO GO (ON FOOT) - iść

TO GO (BY TRANSPORT) – jechać

Polish alphabet : a, ą, b, c, ć, d, e, ę, f, g, h, i, j, k l, ł, m, n, ń, o, ó, p, r, s, ś, t, u ,w, y, z, ź, ż

Noun cases

There are seven cases of noun and adjective declension in Polish. Here comes a list of them in traditional order:

Nominative (mianownik)
Genitive (dopełniacz)
Dative (celownik)
Accusative (biernik)
Instrumental (narzędnik)
Locative (miejscownik)
Vocative (wołacz)

Nominative (Mianownik)

Indicates the SUBJECT of a sentence.

Ela je obiad. – Ella is eating a dinner. (Ela is a NOMINATIVE as she is the main subject of the sentence)

To jest mój talerz. – This is my plate. (“mój talerz” is a NOMINATIVE)

Genitive (Dopelniacz)

A genitive suggests POSSESSION. It often corresponds to English`s or of.

Katarzyna lubi kolegę Jacka. – Katherine likes Jack`s mate. (Jacka is a GENITIVE)

Samochód Małgoski jest zepsuty. – Margaret`s car is broken. (Margaret`s is a GENITIVE)

A genitive is used:

• with units and amounts –>> szklanka mleka – a glass of milk
• after some prepositions, for example: dla, do, od –>>

Naucz się jeździć samochodem dla swojego dobra. - Learn how to drive for your own good.

• in a negative sentence (for the direct object) –>> Mój kolega nie ma samochodu. – My firend does not have a car. (“samochodu” is a GENITIVE)

Dative (Celownik)

Imply an INDIRECT OBJECT; to whom something is given, doing for someone –>>

Marek daje pieniądze Pawłowi. - Mark is giving the money to Paul. (“Pawłowi” is a DATIVE)

Poszukam Ci/Tobie tej książki. - I will look for this book for you. (“Ci/Tobie” is a DATIVE; please note that both “Ci” and “Tobie” are correct to use and mean the same)

A dative after some verbs such as:

• dziękować (komuś) – to thank (somebody) –>> Dziękuję Ci za pomoc. – Thank you for the help. (“Ci” is a DATIVE)
• pomóc (komuś) - to help (somebody) –>> Pomogę Pawłowi przenieść ten stół. – I will help Paul move the table. (“Pawłowi” is a DATIVE)
• wierzyć (komuś) – to believe (somebody) –>> Wierzyłem Jemu od samego początku. – I believed him in the first place. (“Jemu” is a DATIVE)

A dative in expressions –>>

Jest mi smutno. – I`m sad. (“mi” is a DATIVE)

Zpesuł mi się samochód. – My car broke. (“mi” is a DATIVE)

Zpesuł im się samochód. – Their car broke. (“im” is a DATIVE)

Wyobraziłam sobie tragedię tych wszystkich ludzi. – I imagined a tragedy of all these people. (“sobie” is a DATIVE)

Pomagam mojej mamie. – I`m helping my mum. (“mojej” is a DATIVE)

Accusative (Biernik)

Suggests a DIRECT OBJECT of the sentence.

Paweł nie znosi  Jacka. – Paul cannot stand Jack. (“Jacka” is an ACCUSATIVE)

Mama gotuje obiad. – Mum is cooking dinner. (“obiad” is an ACCUSATIVE)

Zawsze słuchaj swojej mamy. – Always listen to your mum. (“mamy” is an ACCUSATIVE)

An Accusative in use with some prepositions indicating a motion –>>

Połóż wszystko na stół. – Put everything onto the table. (“na stół” is na ACCUSATIVE)

Spójrz na lodówkę. – Look at the fridge. (“na lodówkę” is an ACCUSATIVE)

Schowaj pudełko pod łóżko. – Hide this box under the bed. (“pod łóżko” is an ACCUSATIVE)

Przyklej to na te ścianę. – Stick it to this wall. (“na ścianę” is an ACCUSATIVE)

Instrumental (Narzednik)

Is used:

• to express predicate nouns (Orzeczenie) after verbs like być (be), zostać/stać się (become) –>>

On jest tancerzem. – He is a dancer. (“tancerzem” is an INSTRUMENTAL)

On stał się lekarzem. – He became a teacher. (“lekarzem” is an INSTRUMENTAL)

• to express means –>> Zrobimy to moim sposobem. – We are going to do this my way. (“sposobem” is an INSTRUMENTAL)
• after the static-location prepositions: między (between), z (with), za (behind), przed (before), nad (over), pod (under) –>>

 Pracuję charytatywnie z moimi przyjaciółmi. – I`m doing some charity work with my friends. (“przyjaciółmi” is an INSTRUMENTAL)

• after some verbs: interesować się (be interested in), władać (have power over), zajmować się (be busy with), kierować (direct) –>>

Interesuje się piłką nożną. – I`m interested in football. (“piłką nożną” is an INSTRUMENTAL)

Moja szefowa opiekuje się oboma resortami. – My boss looks after both departments. (“resortami” is an INSTRUMENTAL)

• to express certain time periods –>>

wiosną - in the spring

nocą - at night

rankiem - in the morning

Locative (Miejscownik)

The Locative case must be used after the prepositions: w (in), na (on, at), o (about), po (after), przy (near, during, while).

Moja mama jest teraz w pracy. - My mum is at work now. (“w pracy” is a LOCATIVE)

Po pracy, pojedzie na zakupy. – After work she will go shopping. (“po pracy” is a LOCATIVE)

NOTE: there are some exceptions when using w, na, po,o as they can sometimes take the Accusative.

Vocative (Wolacz)

Is used to address somebody directly. It is usually used with affectionate forms of first names –>> Basiu! Gosiu! Using the Vocative with other first names has become optional (it is usually replaced by a Nominative in colloqual language). The Vocative is needed in conjunction with titles –>> Dobranoc, doktorze Bergman! – Good night, doktor Bergman! (“doktorze” is a VOCATIVE)

PREPOSITION – a word used with a noun or pronoun to show place, position, time or method.

A preposition (a word such as from, to, on, after etc.) usually comes before a noun or pronoun and gives information about how, when or where something has happened.

Oni idą do sklepu. – They are going to a shop.   GENITIVE

Wracają od ich mamy. – They are coming back from their mum.    GENITIVE

Oni to robią dla ich mamy. – They are doing it for their mum.     GENITIVE

Stoję obok mojego przyjaciela. – I`m standing next to my friend.    GENITIVE

Mieszkam koło niego. – I live near him.   GENITIVE

Stoję wśród wielu ludzi. – I`m standing among many people.   GENITIVE

Nie mogę nic zrobić bez przyzwoitych narzędzi. – I cannot do anything without decent tools.   GENITIVE

Wszyscy przychodzą oprócz Margaret. – Everyone is coming except Margaret.    GENITIVE

Przyszedłem tutaj z domu. -I`ve come here from my house.   GENITIVE (“from”  in this sentence is only an approximate meaning of the Polish “z”)

Przyszedłem tutaj prosto ze szkoły. – I`ve come here straight from school.    GENITIVE

Zmierzam ku mojemu domowi. – I`m heading towards my home.     DATIVE

Osiągnęłam to dzięki niemu. -  I achieved this thanks to him.    DATIVE

Zrobilam to wbrew jemu. – I did it against him.    DATIVE

Nie możemy sie przedostać przez rzekę. – We can`t get through the river.     ACCUSATIVE

Była zazdrosna o swojego chłopaka. – She has been jealous about her boyfriend.      ACCUSATIVE

Połóż te szklankę na stół. – Put this glass on the table.       ACCUSATIVE

Schowaj to za szafę. – Hide it behind the wardrobe.      ACCUSATIVE

Połóż to pudełko pod łóżko. – Put this box under the bed.       ACCUSATIVE

On przeszedł przez swój dom. – He went through his house.      ACCUSATIVE

Zamierzam wjechac między te dwa samochody. – I`m going to drive between these two cars.     ACCUSATIVE

Wychodzę z przyjaciółmi dzis wieczorem. – I`m going out with my friends tonight.     INSTRUMENTAL

Ona siedzi za swoim biurkiem. – She is sitting behind her desk.      INSTRUMENTAL

On schował prezenty pod łóżkiem. – He hid the gifts under a bed.      INSTRUMENTAL

Dom Piotra stoi między drzewami. – Peter`s house is among trees.     INSTRUMENTAL

Oni rozmawiają o ich szefowej. – They are talking about their boss.      LOCATIVE

Zostaw klucze na stole. – Leave the keys on the table.     LOCATIVE

Zaśpiewali przy mamie. – They sang in front of their mum.      LOCATIVE

Spotkali się w tym samym miejscu. – They met in the same place.     LOCATIVE

Learning the Polish grammar is one thing but absorbing the rich Polish vocabulary is another one. Become familiar with some practical words first before going any further.

DOM - A HOUSE

CZłOWIEK – A HUMAN

POJAZDY – VEHICLES

 WARZYWA I OWOCE - VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

żywność i napoje – food and drinks

 It needs to be understood that Czesław Miłosz`s origin had been very debatable for a certain period of time and only Miłosz himself could put an end to it; here is what he thought of himself:
“My family in the sixteenth century already spoke Polish, just as many families in Finland spoke Swedish and in Ireland English, so I am a Polish not a Lithuanian poet. But the landscapes and perhaps the spirits of Lithuania have never abandoned me”.

• Polish poet, prose writer and tanslator,
• 1961 – 1998 he was a professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of California, Berkeley,
• awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature (1980).

More facts about Miłosz:
- born in 1911 in the village of Szetejnie,
- parents Aleksander and Weronika Miłosz, brother Andrzej Miłosz (Polish journalist, translator of literature and of film subtitles into Polish, he was the one to make Polish documentaries about Czesław,
- Czesław Miłosz was confident in speaking Polish, Lithuanian, Russian, English and French,
- he graduated from Sigismund Augustus Gymnasium in Vilnus and studied law at Stefan Batory University,
- travelled to Paris (1931) where he was introduced to poetry by his cousin Oscar Miłosz (a French poet of Lithuanian origin),
- first publication of his poetry took place in 1934,
- all his works (poetry, fiction and essays) were written in Polish; he also translated the Old Testament Psalms into Polish,
- Czesław Miłosz took part in underground lectures by Polish philosopher, historian of philosophy, historian of art, esthetician, and ethicist; as a committed Socialist Czeslaw took part in activities of the resistance, engaged in fighting the Nazi occupation of Poland,
- he obtained political asylum in France (1951),
- he received the European Literary Prize (1953),
- Miłosz emigrated to the United States (1960) and 10 years later he became a U.S. citizen,
- it was in 1961 when he started lecturing at the University of California, Berkeley in Polish literature in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures,
- the poet received the Neustadt International Prize for Literature award in 1978,
- he carried on a professorship at the University of California after his retirement (1978),
- Miłosz received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1980; that was a decisive moment for him and his poetry to become recognised in Poland after being forbidden by the communist government,
- his right to live in Poland was given back to him after the Iron Curtain was demolished; nevertheless his work was proscribed by government-censored media; he then decided to travel between his homes in Berkley and Krakow,
- Czesław Miłosz received the U.S. National Medal of Arts and an honorary doctorate from Harvard University (1989),
- his works have been read by amateurs and poetry lovers in Poland and internationally; one of the fans of Miłosz was Karol Józef Wojtyla, known as Pope John Paul II.
 

Source: www.biographyonline.net/poets/czeslaw-milosz.html, an article by R.Pettinger 28/11/06

 Poetry works:
• 1936: Trzy zimy (Three Winters)
• 1945: Ocalenie (Rescue)
• 1954: Światło dzienne (The Light of Day)
• 1957: Traktat poetycki (A Poetical Treatise)
• 1962: Król Popiel i inne wiersze (King Popiel and Other Poems)
• 1965: Gucio zaczarowany (Gucio Enchanted)
• 1969: Miasto bez imienia (City Without a Name)
• 1974: Gdzie słońce wschodzi i kedy zapada (Where the Sun Rises and Where it Sets) 1982: Hymn o Perle (The Poem of the Pearl)
• 1984: Nieobjęta ziemia (The Unencompassed Earth)
• 1989: Kroniki (Chronicles)
• 1991: Dalsze okolice (Farther Surroundings)
• 1994: Na brzegu rzeki (Facing the River)
• 2000: To (It)
• 2002: Druga przestrzeń (The Second Space)
• 2003: Orfeusz i Eurydyka (Orpheus and Eurydice)
• 2006: Wiersze ostatnie (Last Poems)

Prose works:
• 1953: Zniewolony umysł (The Captive Mind)
• 1955: Zdobycie władzy (The Seizure of Power)
• 1955: Dolina Issy (The Issa Valley)
• 1959: Rodzinna Europa (Native Realm)
• 1969: The History of Polish Literature
• 1969: Widzenia nad Zatoką San Francisco (A View of San Francisco Bay)
• 1974: Prywatne obowiązki (Private Obligations)
• 1976: Emperor of the Earth
• 1977: Ziemia Ulro (The Land of Ulro)
• 1979: Ogród Nauk (The Garden of Science)
• 1981: Nobel Lecture
• 1983: The Witness of Poetry
• 1985: Zaczynając od moich ulic (Starting from My Streets)
• 1986: A mi Európánkról (About our Europe)
• 1992: Szukanie ojczyzny (In Search of a Homeland)
• 1995: Metafizyczna pauza (The Metaphysical Pause)
• 1996: Legendy nowoczesności (Modern Legends, War Essays)
• 1997: Zycie na wyspach (Life on Islands)
• 1997: Piesek przydrożny (Roadside Dog)
• 1997: Abecadło Milosza (Milosz’s Alphabet)
• 1988: Inne Abecadło (A Further Alphabet)
• 1999: Wyprawa w dwudziestolecie (An Excursion through the Twenties and Thirties)
• 2004: Spiżarnia literacka (A Literary Larder)
• 2004: Przygody młodego umysłu
• 2004: O podróżach w czasie; (On time travel)