I'm having trouble understanding the meaning of "już" and "jeszcze". I understand so far that jeszcze means the verb is still on going, like English "still", e.g.
Jeszcze czytam ksiażkę -> I am still reading the book
and also "even"
Ta ksiażka jest jeszcze lepsza -> This book is even better.
However, I can't get when to use "już". According to the translator and my grammar book, it means "already and yet". But I'm seeing used in all sorts of phrases that don't seem to make sense, e.g. To ja "już" wybieram kino.
Can anyone point me in the right direction of an article or good explanation on the usages, etc..? Thanks
In the example "to ja już wybieram kino/to ja już wolę iść do kina", the use of "już" is quite specific. It means that of all other options previously mentioned, the speaker is ready to choose "kino", but he is not happy with this choice either. Here, the "już" has nothing to do with its basic meaning of "already/yet".
"Jeszcze tego nie zrobiłem/zrobiłam" = "I haven't done it yet" jeszcze (negative)=yet
"Nadal/wciąż/jeszcze czytam" = "I'm still reading" jeszcze (affirmative)=still
"Już skończyłem/skończyłam" = "I have already finished" już (affirmative)=already
"Ta ksiażka jest jeszcze lepsza" = "This book is even better" jeszcze (affirmative)=even "Jeszcze" (=even) in the last example also means "nawet/wręcz".
But I'm seeing used in all sorts of phrases that don't seem to make sense, e.g. To ja "już" wybieram kino.
it means that you have other options to choose (like going to the theater). but you know that both are boring for you. so now you say "To ja juz wybieram kino"... you don't want to go there but it's better than going to the theater :)
Brilliant, thanks for the help. It's starting to make sense now :-)
So "juz" in this context, is kind of like the "already" in the American expression, "Let's just go to the cinema already", when given a choice of things to do.
Piję jeszcze jedno Żywiec! = I'll have another Żywiec! -- I don't think so. It sounds more like I’m still drinking that beer. Since pije is a present continuous verb… I think it'd be better if u'd say 'Wypije jeszcze jedno/ jednego Zywiec/Zywca' which makes more sense here.
"Jeszcze mam więcej czas" = This sounds awfully clumsy in Polish
"Mam jeszcze czas" / "Jeszcze mam czas" = "I still got time" or " I still have time" is correct
"Mam więcej czasu" = "I have more time" or "I got more time"
"Piję jeszcze jedno Żywiec" = Clumsy in Polish "Napiję sie jeszcze jednego Żywca" = "I'll have another Żywiec" or "Wezmę jeszcze jednego Żywca" = "I'll take another Żywiec" or "Dla mnie jeszcze jeden Żywiec" = "Another Żywiec" (for me)" / "One more Żywiec (for me)" "Poproszę jeszcze jednego Żywca" = "Another Żywiec, please"
"Piję" e.g. "Piję kawę" = "I'm drinking coffee" (Present Progressive - now) "Piję" e.g. "Piję kawę 3 razy w tygodniu" = "I drink coffee 3 times a week" (Present Simple) Also Present Simple (habitual meaning): "Pijam kawę 3 razy w tygodniu" (it sounds kind of old-fashioned, but is also correct)
"Wypiję" as in "Wypiję kawę i pójdziemy do sklepu" = "I'll finish/have coffee and we''ll go to the store"
"Dopiję kawę i pójdziemy do sklepu" = "I'll finish coffee and we''ll go to the store" (if you have a little coffee left in your cup, like 2 sips) or:
"Dokończę kawę i pójdziemy do sklepu" = "I'll finish coffee and we''ll go to the store"
"Napiję się" as in "Napiję sie kawy i pójdziemy do sklepu" = "I'll have coffee and we''ll go to the store"
"Czego się napijesz?" = "What would you like (to drink)? / What are you going to have?" = Answer 1: "Napiję się kawy" = "I'll have coffee" Answer 2: "Poproszę kawę" = "I'd like coffee, please" or simply "Coffee, please" Answer 3 : "Dla mnie kawa" = "(For me) Coffee, please" (you wouldn't say "please" = "proszę" in Polish, but it's implied)
I think foreign language learners encounter many problems learning target languages whether it's grammar, pronunciation or whatever. For Polish learners of English it's certainly pronunciation, verb tenses and articles (as Polish doesn't have them), idioms and phrasal verbs. I almost forgot: prepositions. Other than that it's OK I guess.
:-)))))...sort of like saying "We had a party yesterday. The guests barely showed, the food was spoiled and the few who came, left early. Aside from that, it was great! LOL
After English pronunciation, tenses, articles, idioms, and of course, prepositions, Gab, frankly, what's left??!
