Language/Polish/Grammar/Nominative-Case

Polish → Grammar → Cases → Nominative Case

Objective: Gain an in-depth understanding of the Nominative case in Polish grammar, including its usage, noun declensions, and relevant rules.

PS: Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Polish Alphabet & Plurals.

I. Introduction

The Nominative case is the basic form of nouns in Polish. It's the form you'll find in dictionaries and is used for the subject of a sentence. In this lesson, we'll explore the usage of the Nominative case, noun declensions, and relevant rules.

II. Usage of the Nominative Case

Subject of a sentence

• The Nominative case is used for the subject or the main noun of a sentence, which usually performs the action of the verb. Example: Kot (cat) śpi (sleeps). "Kot" is in the Nominative case.

Predicate Nominative

• The Nominative case is also used for a noun that follows the verb "być" (to be) or "zostać" (to become) in its various forms. Example: Ona jest nauczycielką (She is a teacher). "Nauczycielką" is in the Nominative case.

III. Noun Declensions

Masculine Nouns

a. Animate (refers to living beings)

- Singular: no specific ending

- Plural: -owie / -i / -y

Example: chłopak (boy) → chłopcy (boys)

b. Inanimate (refers to non-living objects)

- Singular: no specific ending

- Plural: -y / -i

Example: dom (house) → domy (houses)

Exceptions: rok (year) → lata (years), człowiek (man) → ludzie (men)

Feminine Nouns

• Singular: -a / -i
• Plural: -y Example: dziewczyna (girl) → dziewczyny (girls)

Neuter Nouns

• Singular: -o / -ę / -um
• Plural: -a / -ęta Example: miasto (city) → miasta (cities)

IV. Relevant Rules

Adjective Agreement

• Adjectives in the Nominative case must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and animacy.

Example: czerwony samochód (red car), czerwona książka (red book)

Personal Pronouns

• Personal pronouns in the Nominative case indicate the subject of the sentence.

Examples: ja (I), ty (you, singular), on (he), ona (she), ono (it), my (we), wy (you, plural), oni (they, masculine), one (they, non-masculine)

V. Exercises

1. Identify the Nominative nouns in the following sentences and provide their English translation: a. Pies biega po trawie. b. Dziewczynka czyta książkę. c. Samochód jest nowy.
2. Write the plural form of the following nouns in the Nominative case: a. ptak (bird) b. drzewo (tree) c. rower (bicycle)
3. Make sentences using the given words in the Nominative case: a. kobieta, piękna, spacerować (woman, beautiful, to walk) b. chłopiec, zwinny, grać (boy, agile, to play)

The 7 Polish Cases

1. nominative (mianownik)
2. genitive (dopełniacz)
3. dative (celownik)
4. accusative (biernik)
5. instrumental (narzędnik)
6. locative (miejscownik)
7. vocative (wołacz)

Other Lessons

• Gender
• Nouns
• Definite Articles in Polish
• Possessive Case in Polish
• 0 to A1 Course
• Conditional Tense
• Imperative Mood
• być to be
• Pronunciation Rules
• Past Participle in Polish