Language/Polish/Grammar/How-to-Use-be
Hi Polish learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "być" (to be) in Polish. We will look at the conjugation of the verb, its usage in sentences, and some examples.
Conjugation
The verb "być" is an irregular verb in Polish. Here is the conjugation of the verb in the present tense:
Person | Singular | Plural |
---|---|---|
Ja | Jestem | Jesteśmy |
Ty | Jesteś | Jesteście |
On/Ona/Ono | Jest | Są |
Pronunciation:
- Jestem (yest-em)
- Jesteś (yest-esh)
- Jesteście (yest-esh-chye)
- Jest (yest)
- Są (son)
Usage
The verb "być" is used in many different ways in Polish. It can be used to express existence, location, possession, and more. Here are some examples:
- Existence:
- Jestem studentem. (I am a student.)
- Jesteśmy w Polsce. (We are in Poland.)
- Location:
- On jest w szkole. (He is at school.)
- Oni są w domu. (They are at home.)
- Possession:
- To jest moje auto. (This is my car.)
- To są twoje książki. (These are your books.)
Dialogue
Here is a dialogue between two people using the verb "być":
- Person 1: Cześć! Jesteś z Polski? (Hi! Are you from Poland?)
- Person 2: Tak, jestem. A ty? (Yes, I am. And you?)
- Person 1: Nie, nie jestem. Jestem z Francji. (No, I'm not. I'm from France.)
Quiz
Test your knowledge of the verb "być" with this quiz:
1. What is the conjugation of "być" for the first person singular? A. Jestem B. Jesteś C. Jest D. Są
2. How do you say "We are in Poland" in Polish? A. Jesteśmy w Polsce B. Jesteście w Polsce C. Jestem w Polsce D. Są w Polsce
3. How do you say "This is my car" in Polish? A. To jest mój samochód B. To jest moje auto C. To są moje auto D. To są moje samochody
Answers: 1. A, 2. A, 3. B
Cultural Information
In Polish, the verb "być" is often used in idiomatic expressions. For example, "być wolnym jak ptak" means "to be free as a bird". This expression is used to describe someone who is free to do whatever they want.
Another common expression is "być jak ryba w wodzie", which means "to be like a fish in water". This expression is used to describe someone who is very comfortable in a certain situation.
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Related Lessons
- Perfective and imperfective verbs
- być to be
- Questions
- Adverbs
- How to Use Have
- Possessive Case in Polish
- Conditional Tense
- Pronouns
- Declension of nouns deklinacja rzeczowników
Sources
- Polish Grammar Rules Made Easy | OptiLingo
- Polish Grammar Basics: Here's What You Need to Know
- A Beginner's Guide to Basic Polish Grammar