The difference between i and a ?

In a similarly stupid question to yesterday, I have also been wondering the difference between:

a
and
i

Colloquial?

a is wider but i has a dot above

From what I have seen "a" tends to be used more at the start of a sentence.
e.g.
"A potem" = "And then,"

McCoy!

Although I didn't state my question too well!
You knew what I meant! :P

:)

its hard for me to give you a general rule but there is a difference e.g.

i ty means and you
a ty? means and you?

samochód a motocykl means the car vs the motorbike
samochod i motocykl means the car and the motorbike

i tyle means and thats it
a tyle? means and what about this amount

Thanks mate.


Wow! So it's pretty confusing then!

I just noticed this because I once heard someone (who missed out on a shot of wódka) saying: "i Ja!?!" but then today I notice on somebody's gadu gadu status the use of "a Ja!" so I am trying to see some kind of difference. I guess this is one of those things that Krzysztof once told me: "You will only understand when you learn to think like a Pole"

:)

and probably he was right. you asked one hell of a question here. answering even for a native is pretty chalenging :)

Maybe in Doric, but not in most languages.

I just copy other people. That way, I don't think like an Englishman or like a Pole, but just act like a parrot.


A is a consonant.
I is often a vowel, but in Polish, sometimes it is a sign that the previous consonant is softened.

As standalone words, a i i (for a a i, i i a, i a a) are similar. I had been treating them as slightly different, but only because I have been copying how the professionals seem to use them. I couldn't quite put my finger on what the exact differences are.

I was being stupid and answering in reference to English ;)

How the hell did I manage to type that? It's a vowel, of course. I think I must have been distracted by a sheep.

So

i

enumerates things, like the car and the bike and the elephant
but

a

connects phrases, like Jim went by car and Lisa took the elephant?

?

No. The only rule I know for that says that i is used to enumerate sililarities and a is used to enumerate differences.

Easy example:

Jabłko jest czerwone i pomidor jest czerwony.
Apple is red and tomato is red too.

Jabłko jest czerwone a śliwka jest niebieska.
Apple is red but plum is blue.

more difficult example:

Wczoraj posprzątaliśmy mieszkanie i poszliśmy na spacer.
Yesterday we cleaned up the flat and went for a walk.(similarity: both we did yesterday)

Wczoraj posprzątaliśmy mieszkanie a potem poszliśmy na spacer.
Yesterday we cleaned up the flat and then we went for a walk (difference: first cleanup then a walk - not both in the same time)

most difficult examle:

dialogue:
team: idziemy na piwko
we're going to have some beer

someone: i ja! (or ja też!)
me too!

similarity: I also want to get drunk with you today

another dialogue:

team: idziemy na piwko
we're going to have some beer

soemone: a ja?!
what about me?!

difference: you're going to go without me = you forgot about me! = you go , I don't

I hope this helps you a bit.

Cinek

Bwah, I’m glad my mother tongue is not English... :)
I would also say that i is about similarities, a is about differences.

i = and
a = and, in a sense of and then; or in a sense of but

For example:
Mój brat XY ma 20 lat i studiuje ekonomię na uniwersytecie w XYZ, a moja siostra Z ma 25 lat i pracuje w biurze w XYZ.

– Here, a have this "and then" meaning.


I would call that the most simple example! :)

"i Ja" was more of "me too!" - include me.

"a Ja!" more of a turning attention to yourself...like what about me! It could also be used at the time of the missed drink, but it would sound somewhat accusatory, how dare you leave me out! (especially with an exclamation mark).

"a Ja?" is the same, but just a question. You expect some kind of input about you.
You look good wearing hats, a ja?

Thanks people for your answers!

I'm so glad I asked what seemed at the time like a stupid question.

It's times like this I'm happy to have donated a little money to be a gold member.