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When would I use either -ę or -m in Polish?


Tomczyk  
17 Feb 2016 /  #1
I am learning polish and I would say I'm at a high b1 to low b2 level, but I have always wondered for words that are talking about myself that end in -m, like for example:

Rozumiem
Czytam
Jem

When would I use the -m ending v.s. the ę ending, for words like

lubię
Idę

If I were given a verb in a dictionary, which ending would I chose?
Chemikiem  
17 Feb 2016 /  #2
which ending would I chose?

There are different verb classes in Polish, have a look at this link and see if it helps you :-

polish-dictionary.com/polish-verb-classes

You could also get yourself a copy of 301 Polish Verbs by Klara Janecki which is a very good reference book.
It won't take long before you see the patterns of verb endings, and it gives verbs in present, past, future, conditional tenses etc.
Lyzko  41 | 9558  
17 Feb 2016 /  #3
Nice link, Chemikiem!

I've known several bilingual Polish Ukrainians who've sworn up and down that it's "Ja rozumię" vs. (CORRECT) "Ja rozumiEM"

:-)

The foreign-born learner such as I must learn to wade through dialect-induced error interference, even among certain native Polish speakers, in order to learn and retain proper Polish.
Chemikiem  
17 Feb 2016 /  #4
The foreign-born learner such as I must learn to wade through dialect-induced error interference, even among certain native Polish speakers, in order to learn and retain proper Polish.

I just plod on with my books Lyzko ;), although I need some new material now....

@Tomcyzk, you could also have a look at this thread :-

https://polishforums.com/language/iec-conjugation-41259/

There is lots of information in the Language forum, so use the search function.
kpc21  1 | 746  
17 Feb 2016 /  #5
I have no idea if it's the case and if this rule would work always, but look at the infinitives:

rozumi
czyt
jeść

but:

lubić
iść

If there is a vowel before the cosonant(s) in the infinitive suffix, then you use "-em". Otherwise "-ę".
Lyzko  41 | 9558  
17 Feb 2016 /  #6
Verb classes in Polish are to be sure a challenge, particularly those with "exceptions" which would seem to depart from the so-called rules, for example "znać" (to know a person or place) - first person "Ja znam" vs. "(za-)poznać" (to meet, recognize) - first person "Ja znaJĘ" etc.

Here, it's often difficult especially for a first-time out learner to figure out whether the rule departs from the exception or vice-versa!

Whoops, I meant "poznaJĘ":-)

What a blooper!
Wulkan  - | 3136  
17 Feb 2016 /  #7
Oh no! your image of Polish language guru collapsed :-/
Lyzko  41 | 9558  
17 Feb 2016 /  #8
He-he! Funny, Wulkan.
kpc21  1 | 746  
18 Feb 2016 /  #9
Zapoznać means to tell each of two people that are your friends, but they don't know each other, and they meet by chance, the name of the other one - however it's called in English.

Zapoznać się (z) - get to know (with). With a definition, with a task, with a text, with a new job, with new equipement... Rather not with a person. With a person it's poznać się.
Lyzko  41 | 9558  
18 Feb 2016 /  #10
"To become acquainted with" would be the customary translation.
kpc21  1 | 746  
18 Feb 2016 /  #11
"Zapoznać" would be rather "acquainte somebody with somebody", if I can say so in English.
Chemikiem  
18 Feb 2016 /  #12
If there is a vowel before the cosonant(s) in the infinitive suffix, then you use "-em". Otherwise "-ę".

For the first person singular which is what the OP is discussing, I think this would be right a lot of the time.
But for the verb Czytać which you mentioned, the ending would be 'am', Ja czytam, so not '-em' or '-ę', or have I misunderstood you somewhere?

I think it would be worthwhile for the OP to try and understand the classes though, as endings change less reliably with 2nd, 3rd person singular etc.

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