Language / What exactly all these grammatical terms mean! - feeling frustrated [19]


Too true!
I think the best approach to learning Polish is to do a little bit of everything then you won't get bored and all the time you'll be expanding your vocabulary, getting a feel for word order and attuning your ear to the language. A bit of translating (get someone to check it). Listen to the radio. Do some online drills/tests. Watch DVDs with Polish subtitles.

Language / What exactly all these grammatical terms mean! - feeling frustrated [19]


That's a pity. I have had a private tutor on and off since I started learning and I have a couple of hours lessons a week. Sitting down and reading the theory from a book is a bit boring for me.


You have chosen to learn one of the top 5 hardest languages. And, like me, you are not going to let it beat you!

Language / What exactly all these grammatical terms mean! - feeling frustrated [19]


Good questions. Ones that I often ask myself. I think I must have been asleep during grammar lessons at school. Not sure how much knowledge of English grammar will help you.

Interesting that you mention the instrumental case, that's probably one of the easiest!

Expanding your vocabulary is good. Take some lessons, buy a book on Polish grammar. Then practice what you have learnt on here and with friends/penpals.

I think it is still early days for you and a point will soon come when you will be happy with the progress you've made and all the hard work you've already done.

Language / SAY TELL TALK SPEAK - HARD 4 POLES [22]

Anyone who isn't a native English speaker reading this thread is probably confused by now.
I googled "say tell" and this came up...

englishclub.com/vocabulary/cw-say-tell.htm

It's probably not exhaustive, but there are plenty of examples and a link to a quiz at the foot of the page.

Law / Can a student who is married get a Polish Citizenship [26]


fair enough! hopefully someone on this website will already know the answer. good luck with your relationship.

Law / Can a student who is married get a Polish Citizenship [26]


Welcome to the forums. I can't answer your question. I am curious as to why you are so keen to get citizenship. When you are married you will be entitled to stay in Poland.

Is it so that you can freely move around Europe?

Language / SAY TELL TALK SPEAK - HARD 4 POLES [22]

Here are my observations (completely undefinitive of course!)

Tell / told...
One usage is when issuing an instruction e.g.
He told me to shut the door on my way out.

Tell, is usually used in preference to said when enquiring about something or imparting knowledge/a fact...
Please tell me where I can get a taxi.
He told me that he wasn't coming into work.

Language / sobie sobie sobie sobie sobie [29]

I am interested in the literal translation of "tak sobie" which you may answer in response to jak się masz...
tak sobie = so, so = so myself?

Language / Polish Radio / podcasts for children [6]

Funnily enough I looked at their website for the first time a few minutes ago.

Language / Polish Radio / podcasts for children [6]


thanks, I have been listening to their podcasts for a few months. very useful. i wish they made more frequent recordings.

Real Estate / I have 20,000 EUROS .. and I want a house in Poland - best buy? [13]


They wanted one for 20000 euros... not that there is much difference between the pound and the euro these days

Language / TYPICAL MISTAKES OF POLISH LEARNERS OF ENGLISH? [23]

Polish people frequently do mistakes instead of making mistakes

Love / Polish winking women - does it means she's interested in me? [9]


I think she may be interested. I will refrain from giving you my usual advice (ie grow some balls). Just keep going back to the shop (if you can afford to). Remember this too...

single girls don't stay single forever
Whereabouts are you in the world Chris (I ask only out of idle curiosity)

Life / Where to buy household furniture Lodz [19]


nice website though!

Language / Affectionate endings to guys' names in Polish... [16]


good question...
Potential for confusion with vocative case? (when calling someone)
e.g. Marku is the vocative form of Marek

Language / Simple Polish Stories - Where can I find these on the Internet? [8]


not really, but these sites may prove useful.
goethe-verlag/tests/EO/EO.HTM - Goethe Verlag - Fill in the Blanks Tests
polish grammar - Polish Grammar - Multiple Choice Tests

Language / Simple Polish Stories - Where can I find these on the Internet? [8]


this might be just the thing: Krystyna Paweł i Reks - Short stories with mp3s


yes it sure does

Life / Beware When Buying a Computer in Poland [28]


mostly word processing and spreadsheets I bet!
I doubt if much of the mainstream creative software is available on Linux

Language / Usage of the word "Na" [17]


Yeah I thought English was bad for using words for several meanings.
od szóstej do siódmej
from six until seven


You must be super-motivated now that you've lived there for a while?

Language / Usage of the word "Na" [17]


"do" means "until" in this context. ie. until seeing (you again)

Language / Usage of the word "Na" [17]

Welcome back to the UK, you brought the weather with you...
I didn't realise "na" had as many uses as "po". I will have to study my dictionary.
na przykład (for example)
Muszę pójść na zakupy, na razie.
(I must go shopping. Catch you later)

Life / Wigilia Greetings - When is the best time to send them? [11]

Okay, I have sent my message.


Purely out of interest, what is the earliest time PF members have started Wigilia supper?

Life / Wigilia Greetings - When is the best time to send them? [11]


boom! boom! Christmas cracker jokes already?

Life / Wigilia Greetings - When is the best time to send them? [11]

What if it's cloudy? :)

Food / Twaróg ser - serving suggestions [26]

If wife is the singular form of wives surely the singular form of chives is chife?

Food / Twaróg ser - serving suggestions [26]


I thought chives would go well with it. I just had some with my potato wedges.

Food / Twaróg ser - serving suggestions [26]


icing sugar?

Food / Twaróg ser - serving suggestions [26]


I was joking about the cooking! All suggestions gratefully received.