Language / Perfective vs Imperfective - grammar [150]

Past tenses - Imperfective / Perfective

Hi all

I'm new to this forum. I am learning Polish, have a reasonable understanding of the language and its grammar, but the past tense (perfective tense) is causing a headache.

Is it vital to learn 2 form of verbs - the imperfective and perfective forms? For example

I ate my dinner (didn't finish it) - Jadłem moj obiad.
I ate my dinner (finished it all) - Zjadłem moj obiad.

I read the newspaper (first two pages) -Czyałem gazeta
I read the newspaper (all the paper) - Przeczytałem gazeta

It's hard learning verbs and vobacularly, but any advice would be welcome!

Dziękuje bardzo

Language / Narzędnik - Liczba Mnoga (Instrumental - plurals) - table attached [24]

Hi Catsoldier

I only got 5 correct! Looking at the answers take number 8 for example.

Magdalena i Dorota są dobrymi nauczycielkami. Looking at the attached table I look at the żeński row (as Dorota and Magdelena are women, but I read the ending to be '...kimi'! The '... ymi' ending is next to the męski row...

Also number 3. Anna i Agnieszka są sympatyczynymi polkami. Looking at the table again, both żeński row, so why is the ending not ....nymi?

I'm flummoxed!

Language / Narzędnik - Liczba Mnoga (Instrumental - plurals) - table attached [24]

Still don't get it! It's so frustrating!

Do you think I'm reading the table wrong? I read that looking the way the table is formatted:

męski instrumental plurals = ... czymi (so when you have 2 or more male things, the word ends .czymi)

żeński instrumental plurals = ...kimi (so when you have 2 women the word ends .kimi)

nijaki instrumental plurals = ... ymi (so when you have 2 neutral things, the word ends .ymi).

... :-(

Language / Narzędnik - Liczba Mnoga (Instrumental - plurals) - table attached [24]

Thanks very much catsoldier - I really appreciate your help. I know once I get this, It'll stick. I know it'll bash me between the eyes - I'm off to bed....

Thanks again for your time,
Chrzaszcz

Language / Narzędnik - Liczba Mnoga (Instrumental - plurals) - table attached [24]

I am trying to give you a thank you! I won't / didn't let me! Lets hope now!

Trying to do GCSE Polish - got to learn all 7 cases!

Language / Narzędnik - Liczba Mnoga (Instrumental - plurals) - table attached [24]

Dziekuje bradzo A.K.

I get the -ami part. But not the rest. I think I'm reading too much into this! I'll have another bash tomorrow.

I'm off to bed. Thanks again,

Chrzaszcz

Hi Catsoldier, I do have a (native Pole) teacher. He was doing a fantastic job, but due to work commitments, I haven't had a lesson for a few weeks. Just trying to get by on my own (with yours and A.K's help!!!) :-)

Language / Locative case and prepositions in Polish [13]

Merged: Help with Polish locative case

Hey folks
I just need a little bit of help with the Locative case.

In Polish, the sentence 'I am going (travelling) home by bus' is

'Jadę do domu autobusem' (NOUN 'AUTOBUS' IN INSTRUMENTAL CASE - i hope!).

To say I am on the bus is 'Jestem w autobusie'. (NOUN 'AUTOBUS' IN LOCATIVE CASE).

My question relates to the locative case (second sentence). I understand the noun autobus is masculine, and have looked on several noun declension tables to verify the noun endings, and I can only see the noun ends in -e, or -u, not -ie. Why does 'autobus' not end 'autobuse' or 'autobusu', rather than 'autobusie'

Can anyone help?
Dziękuje

Language / Locative case and prepositions in Polish [13]

Hi mafketis

so to see if I've got it correct.

autobus becomes 'autobusie'. the letter 'i' is inserted to soften the preceding 's' ?

Many thanks for your speedy reply!

Language / Locative case and prepositions in Polish [13]

FANTASTYCZNIE!

Dziekuje mafketis and Vincent. Polish is very difficult, but I will persevere with everyone's help!

Language / How to say 'I am learning Polish' [12]

fantastyczny
dziękuję

Language / Narzędnik - Liczba Mnoga (Instrumental - plurals) - table attached [24]

Czesc everyone!

Can anyone clear something up regarding the plural Narzędnik (Instrumental) case..

I have a sentence 'Mark i Piotr są studentami politechniki'.

I understand the 'studentami' ending (intrumental plural masculine), but not sure why 'politechniki' ends the way it does?

Will the word politechnika decline as Instrumental the same for 'studentami'?

I have noun/adjective tables giving their full declentions, but can't fathom out this! Any help?

Language / Narzędnik - Liczba Mnoga (Instrumental - plurals) - table attached [24]

Thanks Catsoldier and Strzyga.

Does it then have to decline in the Genitive - do you know why? I believe Politechni'ka is nominative form in dictionaries (and female). Looking at my noun declension table (female genitive) it could end in -y or -i.

I'm stuck!

Language / Narzędnik - Liczba Mnoga (Instrumental - plurals) - table attached [24]

Thanks a million strzyga

Jestem uczę się polsgiego i myszlę język polskiego jest bardzo trudne, zwłaszcza deklinacja!!!!

Czy jesteś polką?

Language / Narzędnik - Liczba Mnoga (Instrumental - plurals) - table attached [24]

Hi moderators

Just to say what a blessing this forum is! Thank you for this forum where those (like myself) have so many helpful experts in Polish to give linguistic prompts!

Dziękuję bardzo

Chrząszcz

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

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]

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]

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]

.... 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]

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]

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]

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]

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 / 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 / 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....