Language/Polish/Grammar/Verbs-and-Tenses

Polish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Polish Grammar → Verbs and Tenses

Verbs and Tenses

In this lesson, we will dive into the world of Polish verbs and tenses. Verbs are an essential part of any language, and understanding their conjugation and usage is crucial for effective communication. Polish verbs can be quite complex, but with practice and dedication, you will become proficient in using them.

Conjugation of Polish Verbs

Like many other languages, Polish verbs are conjugated to reflect the subject, tense, and mood of the sentence. In Polish, verbs can be conjugated in three main tenses: present, past, and future. Each tense has its own set of conjugation rules and verb endings.

Let's start by looking at the conjugation of regular verbs in the present tense. Regular verbs in Polish belong to one of three conjugation classes, depending on their infinitive ending: -ować, -ywać, or -ić. For example, the verb "czytać" (to read) belongs to the -ać conjugation class.

Here is an example of the conjugation of the verb "czytać" in the present tense:

Polish	Pronunciation	English
czytam	['t͡ʂɨ.tam]	I read
czytasz	['t͡ʂɨ.tash]	you read (singular)
czyta	['t͡ʂɨ.ta]	he/she/it reads
czytamy	['t͡ʂɨ.ta.mɨ]	we read
czytacie	['t͡ʂɨ.ta.t͡ɕɛ]	you read (plural)
czytają	['t͡ʂɨ.ta.jɔ̃]	they read

As you can see, the verb endings change depending on the subject of the sentence. It is important to note that Polish verbs also have different forms for masculine and feminine subjects in the third person singular. For example, "czyta" is used for masculine subjects, and "czyta" is used for feminine subjects.

Now let's take a look at the conjugation of regular verbs in the past tense. In Polish, the past tense is formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem. Here is an example of the conjugation of the verb "czytać" in the past tense:

Polish	Pronunciation	English
czytałem	['t͡ʂɨ.ta.wɛm]	I read
czytałaś	['t͡ʂɨ.ta.waʂ]	you read (singular)
czytał	['t͡ʂɨ.ta.w]	he read
czytała	['t͡ʂɨ.ta.wa]	she read
czytaliśmy	['t͡ʂɨ.ta.lʲi.ɕɛm]	we read
czytałyście	['t͡ʂɨ.ta.wɨɕ.t͡ɕɛ]	you read (plural)
czytały	['t͡ʂɨ.ta.wɨ]	they read

Again, the verb endings change depending on the subject. In the past tense, the verb forms also indicate the gender of the subject. For example, "czytałem" is used for masculine subjects, "czytałaś" for feminine subjects, and "czytałyście" for mixed-gender or female-only groups.

Present and Past Tenses

Now that you have learned the conjugation of regular verbs in the present and past tenses, let's explore how these tenses are used in Polish.

The present tense is used to describe actions happening at the present moment or actions that are habitual or ongoing. Here are some examples:

• Ona czyta książkę. (She is reading a book.)
• Ja pracuję w biurze. (I work in an office.)
• Ty uczysz się polskiego. (You are learning Polish.)

In these sentences, the verbs "czytać" (to read), "pracować" (to work), and "uczyć się" (to learn) are conjugated in the present tense to match the subject of the sentence.

The past tense, on the other hand, is used to describe actions that have already happened in the past. Here are some examples:

• Wczoraj czytałem książkę. (Yesterday, I read a book.)
• Ona pracowała w biurze przez pięć lat. (She worked in an office for five years.)
• Ty uczyłeś się polskiego przez dwa miesiące. (You learned Polish for two months.)

In these sentences, the verbs "czytać" (to read), "pracować" (to work), and "uczyć się" (to learn) are conjugated in the past tense to indicate that the actions took place in the past.

It is worth noting that Polish has several past tenses, including the imperfective past and the perfective past. The imperfective past is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, while the perfective past is used to describe completed actions in the past. However, the conjugation rules for regular verbs remain the same regardless of the past tense used.

Irregular Verbs

While regular verbs in Polish follow a specific pattern of conjugation, there are also many irregular verbs that do not follow these patterns. Irregular verbs can have unpredictable conjugation forms, and they must be memorized individually.

Here are some examples of irregular verbs in Polish:

• być (to be)
• mieć (to have)
• robić (to do/make)
• iść (to go)
• wiedzieć (to know)

The conjugation of these verbs in different tenses and moods can be quite complex, so it is important to study and practice them separately.

Additional Resources

Learning how to conjugate Polish verbs and use different tenses is a challenging but essential part of mastering the language. To further enhance your understanding and practice your skills, we recommend the following resources:

• Polish grammar textbooks
• Online language learning platforms
• Language exchange programs
• Polish language courses or tutors
• Polish-language movies, TV shows, and books

Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you engage with the Polish language and immerse yourself in its culture, the more confident you will become in using verbs and tenses correctly.

Table of Contents - Polish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Polish Alphabet
• Pronunciation Rules

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Noun Gender
• Definite and Indefinite Articles

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Status

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparative and Superlative

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

  ---

Polish Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Polish Cuisine

Sources

• Polish Tenses: Expressing the Past, Present, and Future
• Tenses in the Polish language | Mówić po polsku
• Polish grammar - Wikipedia

Other Lessons

• Adverbs in Polish
• być to be
• Past Tense
• mieć to have
• The Imperative Mood
• Nouns and Gender
• Future Tense
• Personal pronouns
• Future and Conditional Tenses
• How to Use be