będzie potrafił?

cinek 2 | 347

1 Jul 2010 / #31

I'll try to illustrate the expert's view that the verb still has a distinctly perfective character in modern Polish when I have some more free time.

Can you give me at least one example in contemporary language where the perfective features can be seen?

Cinek

mafketis 38 | 11106

1 Jul 2010 / #32

To further muddy the waters,

umiem to zrobić - I know how to do it

wiem, jak to zrobić - I know how to do it

IIRC the difference for most speakers is the first implies that you've done it before, while the second doesn't (or maybe it's the other way around, my mind is a little muddied itself at the moment)

cinek 2 | 347

1 Jul 2010 / #33

I think the easiest (though not perfect) way to understand the difference is to remember that 'wiem' expresses what you have in your mind while 'umiem' says about skills of your body (I know, it's often the same :-).

e.g.
Wiem jak się jeździ na rowerze (trzeba usiąść na sidodełku, trzymać kierownicę i pedałować)

ale

nie umiem tego robić (bo mam problem z utrzymaniem równowagi)

Cinek

Lyzko

2 Jul 2010 / #34

Yes, Justysia! I believe I finally DO understand the difference-:))

S'pose I was just translating from German once again, which tends to happen whenever I feel stressed or confused(..as usual) LOL

"Wolodyia, mówisz po polsku?" - Nie, tylko ZNAM trochę polskiego. Jestem Rosjaninem!
"No, spotkasz się dziś wieczór przed kinem?" - Nie, niestety nie MOGĘ spotkać się!
"Będziesz potrafiła iść jutro na koncert?" - Ależ tak, czy czuję się lepiej./Jeśli będę w stanie.

Is this the idea, sort of??