Language/Polish/Grammar/Give-your-Opinion
Hi Polish learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to express opinions in Polish. Giving an opinion in a foreign language can be quite challenging, but with practice, you will be able to express yourself confidently. We will also include some cultural information and interesting facts about expressing opinions in Poland.
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Conditional Mood & być to be.
Why is it important to learn how to give opinions?[edit | edit source]
Expressing opinions is an essential part of communication. It allows you to express your thoughts and feelings on a particular subject, and it's also a way to connect with others who share the same views. In Poland, expressing opinions is highly valued, and it can lead to lively discussions and debates. As a tourist, showing an interest in Polish culture and expressing your opinion can also help you to connect with locals and make new friends.
Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
Before we dive into grammar, let's learn some vocabulary related to expressing opinions:
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| moim zdaniem | moy-em zda-nyem | in my opinion |
| uważam, że | oo-vah-zahm, zhe | I think that |
| sądzę, że | son-jeh, zhe | I reckon that |
| według mnie | veh-doowk mn-yeh | according to me |
| na mój gust | nah moy goost | in my taste |
Note that "uważam" and "sądzę" are both commonly used to express opinions, but "sądzę" can also be translated as "I believe."
Grammar[edit | edit source]
To express your opinion in Polish, you will need to use verbs in the first person, which means "I" in English. In the present tense, these verbs will end with -ę or -am, depending on the verb conjugation. Here are some examples:
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| uważam, że polska kuchnia jest pyszna | oo-vah-zahm, zhe pohl-ska koo-hnya yest pis-na | I think that Polish cuisine is delicious |
| moim zdaniem Polska jest pięknym krajem | moy-em zda-nyem pohl-ska yest pyen-knym krai-yem | In my opinion, Poland is a beautiful country |
| sądzę, że Kraków to jedno z najpiękniejszych miast w Polsce | son-jeh, zhe kra-koofto yed-noz nie-pyengk-nyesh-ykh mi-yast v pohl-tse | I believe that Krakow is one of the most beautiful cities in Poland |
In the past tense, we use the verbs ending with -łem or -am, depending on the verb conjugation. Here are some examples:
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| według mnie, ten film był bardzo emocjonujący | veh-doowk mn-yeh, ten film byw bard-zo emow-tsyo-nyoo-yts-y | in my opinion, this movie was very exciting |
| myślę, że ta książka była bardzo pouczająca | mish-leh, zhe ta ks-yahn-zh-ka byw bard-zo pow-cha-yoo-yts-ya | I think that this book was very informative |
It's also common to use adverbs to strengthen your opinions, such as "na pewno" (certainly), "absolutnie" (absolutely), and "całkowicie" (completely). Here are some examples:
|-- class="wikitable" ! Polish !! Pronunciation !! English |- | według mnie, polski jest bardzo trudnym językiem, ale na pewno warto go uczyć się || veh-doowk mn-yeh, pol-ski yest bard-zo trood-nym ye-n-zye-kyem, ah-leh nah pev-no warto gooo oo-chee-sch-she || In my opinion, Polish is a very difficult language, but it's certainly worth learning |- | dla mnie, Polska jest absolutnie warta odwiedzenia || dla mn-yeh, pohl-ska yest ab-so-loot-nye var-ta od-vee-dzen-yah || For me, Poland is absolutely worth visiting |}
Examples in context[edit | edit source]
Let's imagine a conversation between two people:
- Person 1: Co myślisz o polskiej kuchni? (What do you think about Polish cuisine?)
- Person 2: Według mnie, polska kuchnia jest jedną z najlepszych w Europie, bardzo lubię pierogi. (In my opinion, Polish cuisine is one of the best in Europe, I really like pierogi.)
- Person 1: Czy uważasz, że Polska jest pięknym krajem? (Do you think that Poland is a beautiful country?)
- Person 2: Tak, moim zdaniem Polska jest bardzo piękna i ma niesamowitą historię. (Yes, in my opinion, Poland is very beautiful and has an incredible history.)
- Person 1: Jakie jest twoje ulubione miasto w Polsce? (What is your favorite city in Poland?)
- Person 2: Sądzę, że jest ich wiele, ale uwielbiam Kraków za jego piękne zabytki i klimat. (I believe that there are many, but I love Krakow for its beautiful monuments and atmosphere.)
Cultural information[edit | edit source]
In Poland, giving opinions is considered a sign of good education and intellectual capacity. Poles are usually straightforward and honest in their communication, which means that they will not hesitate to express their opinions, even if they differ from yours. It's important to remember that expressing your opinion should be done with respect and diplomacy to avoid offending anyone.
Practice, practice, practice![edit | edit source]
To improve your Polish grammar and better express your opinions, you can use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! You can also check out our [Language/Polish|Polish] Grammar section for more resources.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Definite Articles in Polish
- How to Use Have
- Perfective and imperfective verbs
- Future Tense
- Plural
- Nouns
- Cases
- Possessive Case in Polish
- Adverbs
- Pronouns
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Polish Grammar - Improve your skill on the App Store
- 16 Best And Worst Online Polish Courses For 2023