Language / What's the time? Numbers in Polish. [14]

so... depending on whether it's .... past the hour, or to the hour, the number (of the hour) changes (spelling)???

is... past 1 o'clock .... po pierwszej? is... minutes to 1 o'clock is .... za pierwsza?
is... past 2 o'clock ... po drugej? is... minutes to 2 o'clock is ... za drugesta? etc.....
is... past 3 o'clock ... po trzej?
is... past 4 o'clock ... po czwartej?
is... past 5 o'clock ... po piatej?
is... past 6 o'clock ... po szostej?
is... past 7 o'clock ... po siodmej?
is... past 8 o'clock ... po osmej?
is... past 9 o'clock ... po dziewatnej?
is... past 10 o'clock ..po dziezatnej?
is... past 11 o'clock ..po jedenastej?
is... past 12 o'clock ..po dwanastej? Can anyone check these numbers...... Cheers gumishu!!!! As you can see, I struggling a bit

no probs! I've found an answer!!!!!

Language / How hard is it to learn Polish? [178]

Sorry NKEmerald! I'll read a bit closer next time!!!!!! :-)

Language / How hard is it to learn Polish? [178]


Don't call me 'smartass'. I was merely saying that speakers of their own mother-tongue don't find their language difficult. I was not quoting you.

Language / How hard is it to learn Polish? [178]

For the Southern Irish there is no problem in how to pronounce the monikers Siobhan or Padraig (my mother speaks it fluently!). The Gaelic language is natural to them - just the same as the Polish language is natural to Poles. The words 'dżdżownica' or indeed 'chrząszcz' are (in my opinion) difficult to pronounce, but slip off the tongue for native Poles.

Language / How hard is it to learn Polish? [178]

In response to the original question:


In my opinion - you get out from a language what you put in! I think the reason Polish is deemed difficult is due to the 7 cases and the corresponding declensions (those who have already replied to my previous posts have heard me bleating on about these - sorry).

Example, I will learn a noun, say for example 'mleko'. If I wish to construct a basic sentence 'I drink tea with milk' it becomes 'Piję herbatę z mlekiem'. Notice the Polish noun changes from 'mleko' to 'mlekiem'.

This has provided me with a personal challenge: to crack the case system, and speak Polish in a professional manner. I remember when first learning it I used to introduce myself by saying 'Jestem Anglielski', and 'Ja wiem Polski'. I cringe now thinking back on these howlers.

Can anyone give me any translation on these two erroneous statements?!!

Numbers provide another difficulty. Again, I used to say 'Mam cztery brat' and 'Mam dwa siostra'. I believe it should be 'Mam CZTERECH braci' and 'mam dwie siostry'. It's just a case of learning ... learning ... learning ....

Language / GCSE Polish experience. [51]


Thanks catsoldier. I will certainly be here posting my grammatical queries. I have no idea how I'll get on - I do have at the most 8 months to prepare. I think my main thing now is to learn adverbs, nouns and everything else! Czy jesteś polakiem? Czy pracujesz w Polsce? Jestem wścibski! :-)

Language / GCSE Polish experience. [51]

Hi Catsoldier

Just had a quick look on language statistics webpage. Polish came 7th most popular out of 21 languages studied at GCSE level last year. Just over 4,000 entries were recieved. French (154,000 entries), followed by Spanish, German, Welsh, Italian, Urdu then Polish. Interestigly, in 1995 there were just 237 entries for Polish.

As far as any type of examination below GCSE level there aren't any (that I know of). Just out of interest, it took me weeks and weeks to find a centre that offer the Polish exam. There are only two centres here in UK - London and Oxford. Mam trzydześci dziewięć lat, and found it impossible to sit it at a school.

At least I found a couple of centres to do it!

Language / Czego, Czemu, Co, Kto, Jak, Dlaczego? [64]

Oh dear!!!

No, I haven't heard of them! How and why have they been introduced? I can't find anything on the internet.

Language / GCSE Polish experience. [51]

Hi catsoldier

Irish leavers have three years to study for their Leaving Certificates (16-19). Still, the level looks way higher than the English GCSE level.

I think the ILC is for all students. Most Irish universities require a language as part of their studies.

Language / Czego, Czemu, Co, Kto, Jak, Dlaczego? [64]

Thanks zman

I am so very humbled by this forum. This has become the only place where I can ask grammatical questions. I am really touched as there are so many talented and intelligent linguists out there who reply giving their help and hints. Moderators: Keep up the good work!!!

Dziękuję bardzo!

Language / Polish words that sound funny? [224]


Is that 'Slainte' Irish for Cheers?!

I'm half Irish and have heard loads of 'craic' (crack) over in the Emerald Isle....


this brings on a gastronomic theme.....

The Northern Welsh word for microwave is the splendid onomatopoeic word 'popty ping'!!! Make sure you accentuate the final 'ping'! Somehow the sound of the microwave has become incorporated into the word...

Japanese:

Did Japanese a few years ago, and came across loads of funny words, meaning they sounded funny to myself.

The equivalent of the English word 'is' is 'desu' with a silent 'u' - pronounced 'dess', and is usually put at the end of a sentence.

'I am a stewardess' is 'Wa-ta-shi wa su-chu-wa-h-de-s de-s(u)'.

telephone number is 'denwo bango'.

German

One only word which does give me a wry smile is 'dudelsack' (bagpipes).

French

The French word for paperclip is 'trombone' - a paperclip does look like a trombone, or is that the other way round (n'est pas?).

Please, keep to the original topic. Thank you.

Przepraszam!

I got carried away!!!! ;-)

Language / Polish words that sound funny? [224]

Me and my Polish mate were walking down a canal tow path. He asked me what a particular acquatic bird was wading on the surface of the canal.

I replied 'It's a swan'.

He burst out laughing - I had no idea why. He then explained that my pronunciation of 'swan' was exactly the same as 'słoń', meaning 'elephant'.

He just imagined an elephant swimming down the canal - it must have been an image!

Language is full of unexpected moments.

Language / Czego, Czemu, Co, Kto, Jak, Dlaczego? [64]

Czesść

LwowskaKrakow i Ziemowit

Thanks for your replies. I have a few books that I'm systemically working through, and one in particular (Po Polsku 1) introduces these cases one by one.

I have learnt a few instances where to use the Instrumental case. 'Poprozę herbatę z mlekiem?'. Please do correct me if I'm incorrect but I believe herbatę is in the Accusative and mlekiem is in the Instrumental - i hope!

It's just remembering how to change the nouns to their corresponding case endings. I remember my polish mate at my house asking for coffee with milk. Obviously he used the correct lingo and remember thinking why has he said 'mlekiem' and not 'mlek' (that is the only word I new for milk). Now of course, I understand! Slowly but surely It's all sinking in.... So far, just done Nominative, Intrumental, Accusative ...

Did you just do away with case ending tables etc?

Language / GCSE Polish experience. [51]

Hi Rybnik and Pawian

Yes, GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) are compulsory examinations taken by all 15/16 year olds in their final year at school. They take between 5 and 10 separate GCSE examinations usually studied over two years.

GCSE's can be taken in a myriad of subjects and for different purposes. To be able to sit Advanced Levels (A Levels), students generally have to obtain at least 5 GCSE passes at grades A-C. If students obtain these grades, they they enter Sixth Form (ages 16-18) and usually study 4 or 5 A Levels, studied over 2 years. Then after that off to University (ages 18-20/21).

AQA stands for Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (UK). This is the Examinations Board which sets out/marks students' GCSE/A level examination papers.

The attachements I pasted in were AQA samples of GCSE Polish examinations. It provides a glimpse of what the exam contains.

Cześć

Czesc Pawian

Thanks for the English GCSE counterpart... It looks slightly different.

The full GCSE award consists of 4 parts:

Reading
Writing
Speaking
Listening

Must pass all four parts to be awarded the full qualification.

I think there's a difference between English and Polish education system. I am quite astonished though with the Polish people I meet here how fluent they are in English. I do wish I was better in Język Polskiego......

Language / Czego, Czemu, Co, Kto, Jak, Dlaczego? [64]

Merged: KTO? CO? KOGO? CZEGO?

Czesc wszyscy

Could anyone give me any explanations of the different question words used in the different cases?

Mianownik N (who/kto? what/co?)
Dopełniacz G (of who/kogo? of what/czego?)
Celownik D (to whom/komu? to what/czemu?)
Biernik A (whom/kogo? what/co?)
Narzędnik I (with whom/z kim? with what/z czym?)
Miejscownik L (about whom/o kim? about what/o czym? where/gdzie?)

In the exercise below we're given statements and then I have to give the appropriate questions using Kogo? or Co? (my answers given in bold)..in relation to the Biernik case.

1. Mama zna mojego profesora. Kogo ona zna?
2. Dziewczyna lubi studenta. Kogo ona lubi?
3. Piotr pije sok. Co on pije?
4. Ten pan czyta gazete. Co on czyta?
5. Ja mam kota. Co masz?

I've noticed that the word 'kogo' means 'of who' (in the Dopelniacz case), and 'whom'. (in the Biernik case).

In essence, when you are asked a question in Polish, do the question words (as above) give a clue to which case to use?

I've a bit of a headache trying to get used to this. Is this important to understand? :-/

Language / GCSE Polish experience. [51]


Hi Pawian

Here are a few specimen examples from previous GCSE exams. I'm sure you think it's a walk in the park!

store.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcse/pdf/AQA-46852-W-SQP.PDF
store.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcse/pdf/AQA-46851-W-SQP.PDF

This is an example of previous candidates' answers to the Writing part, giving exaiminers' comments.

store.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcse/pdf/AQA-4685-W-TRB-OG-EXEMPWRIT-SPR10.PDF

Have fun!

Language / GCSE Polish experience. [51]

Hi strzyga

I do know perhaps 15 Poles (I go to the Polish Church), and do 'talk' to them in rather broken Polish - and rather brief conversations. They are more than willing to give me help, but one feels a little nuisance asking.

I'm afraid I may have to continue to ask questions here. It's my only lifeline!

Can I take this opportunity to save a big thanks for everyone who has given me a massive help already!

Watch this space....

Language / GCSE Polish experience. [51]

Hi Pawian

Is this for Polish students doing Polish language exam? I've had a look at the AQA Examination Board (UK) syllabus, and specimen exam papers, and your attachment seems 10 times harder!!!!

If your link is the standard required, I may have to reconsider?

Have you done it?

Language / Biernik czy narzędnik (Accusative or Instrumental) [65]

Dziękuję bardzo Mafketis, Lyzko i strzyga!!

I have a little bad news. My Polish mate who was teaching me Polish for GCSE has moved away!!!!!

====----> NEW TOPIC!

Cześć wszyscy - more questions.

Would anyone just checking through these statements to see if I have the correct endings (mianownik, narzędnik lub biernik)...
(Got to choose the correct endings - my answers are in bold)

1. Ten samochod jest stary / stara / stare. (nominative)
2. Moja rodzina jest duży / duża / duże. (nominative)
3. Ona jest sympatyczna / sympatycną kobietą. (instrumental)
4. Oni są dobry / dobre / dobrymi rodzicami. (instrumental)
5. Mam małego / mały / małej psa. (accusative)
6. Lubie angielska / angielską literaturę. (instrumental)
7. Znam tego wysokim / wysokiego / wysoka mezczyzne. (nominative)
8. Mam wysoki / wysokiego / wysokim wujka. (accusative)
9. Krzyś jest mały / małym / małe dzieckiem. (instrumental)
10 Żywiec to polskie / polska / polskiego piwo. (nominative)

:-)

Language / Biernik czy narzędnik (Accusative or Instrumental) [65]

Hey Lyzko and Makfetis

Both of you sound as if you know your stuff!!!! I thought the genetive was used for possessions! Why is the genitive used for going from a place/substance?

Could you give an example?

Chrąszcz

Language / Biernik czy narzędnik (Accusative or Instrumental) [65]

You got me there too!

Language is such a diverse topic! It's such a shame the spark didn't ignite when I was at school. Oh well, there a loads of language resources out there including of course this forum!

Durchgebraten! :-)

Language / Biernik czy narzędnik (Accusative or Instrumental) [65]

Blimey Lyzko!

Well impressed! What you studied means very little to me! I'm interested in etymology, especially how words have completely changed their meanings. Here are a few:

Artificial

This originally meant ‘full of artistic or technical skill’. Now its meaning has a very different meaning.

Nice

This comes from the Latin ‘not to know’. Originally a ‘nice person’ was someone who was ignorant or unaware.

Awful

This meant ‘full of awe’ i.e. something wonderful, delightful, amazing. However, over time it has evolved to mean exactly the opposite.

Brave

This once was used to signify cowardice. Indeed, its old meaning lives on in the word ‘bravado’.

Manufacture

From the Latin meaning ‘to make by hand’ this originally signified things that were created by craftsmen. Now the opposite, made by machines, is its meaning.

Counterfeit

This once meant a perfect copy. Now it means anything but.

I did once have ambitions to do Linguistics at uni, but got a good job, and so it's still an unfulfilled ambition. Well done Lyzko!

Language / Biernik czy narzędnik (Accusative or Instrumental) [65]

.... czy na pewno?????

Let me have another look at more cases and I am sure I will provide you with more questions.

You've been a fantastic help (as with several others here in the forum).

dobra robota!!!! :-)

Language / Biernik czy narzędnik (Accusative or Instrumental) [65]

Cheers Strzyga

As I mentioned, they're to pre GCSE level, and just enough to get me by. I do intend, however, to study Polish to a much higher level. Would you mind just looking over these five Biernik (Accusative) sentences.

...or if anyone else could...

We're given nouns and adjectives in parentheses. We then have to complete the sentence in the accusative case...

a) (mały kot) Mam MA£EGO KOTA.
KOTA is female.

b) (młodszy brat) Mam M£ODSZEGO BRATA.
BRATA is male

c) (polska muzyka) Lubię POLSKĄ MUSYKĘ.
MUZYKA is female.

d) (ten pisarz) Lubie TEN PISARZ.
stuck on this one - Pisarz means 'writer' and it's a male noun. Is it classed as animate or inanimate? A 'writer' is living isn't he/she? So, looking at my declension table, I'm doubtful the answer is 'tenego pisarza'? So, plumped for ten pisarz.

e) (małe dziecko) Oni maja MA£E DZIECKO.
First of all, is 'dziecko' male, female, or neuter? I didn't know this, so again, left it s male dziecko...

Could anyone give me any explation on my points? Again, I'm sorry for having to ask all these rather dull grammatical questions, but I'm rather astonished at all the positive help I've received!!! Cheers folks.

Hi Lyzko.

Russian. It wasn't very indepth, only a level one type certified course. Tourist lingo was mainly studied. I was hooked though. I felt a certain sense of satisfaction being able to decipher the Cyrillic script. Once you've learnt it, it's there to stay. There are similarities between Russian and Polish - the only two words I remember of hand are 'dom/domu' (house) and 'Gdie/Gdzie' (where).

I would like to take Russian further at some point. How about yourself? Have you done a degree in linguistics/languages?

Language / Biernik czy narzędnik (Accusative or Instrumental) [65]

Well, I'm impressed!

I'm no linguist either. I just have an interest in languages. Polish is the first language I've had to 'deconstruct' as it were to learn all the aspects of speech. I've done elementary Japanese, Russian, German, French, all to pre-GCSE level alas no deconstruction was necessary, just learning reams of vocab and a few verbs. For Polish, I do want to learn as much on the 7 cases, and it'l give me a solid foundation to build on.

Cheers!

Language / Biernik czy narzędnik (Accusative or Instrumental) [65]

Many thanks again strzyga - you're a star. Just a question - have you studied linguistics. You seem (amongst others here) to really know your languages!

thanks

Language / Biernik czy narzędnik (Accusative or Instrumental) [65]

Thanks strzyga!

So, to double check, I can use the Instrumental case if it follows 'z' 'with'.

Accusative is used for the direct object of the verb?

Were my explanations correct?

Cheers