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.

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)