Language/Polish/Grammar/Conditional-Sentences
As a Polish language teacher with over 20 years of experience, I find that one of the most challenging aspects of Polish grammar for learners is the formation of conditional sentences. By the end of this lesson, you will understand how to form conditional sentences in Polish.
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Negation & Vocative Case.
Overview
Conditional sentences express hypothetical situations or actions that depend on certain conditions. In Polish, conditional sentences are formed using the word "gdyby" (if) and the conditional mood of the verb. There are two types of conditional sentences:
- The first type is called "warunkowe rzeczywiste" (real conditional) and refers to conditions that are still possible or likely to happen in the present or future. - The second type is called "warunkowe nierealne" (unreal conditional) and refers to conditions that are purely hypothetical or impossible.
In this lesson, we will focus on the formation of both types of conditional sentences in Polish.
Real Conditional Sentences
Real conditional sentences are formed using the conditional mood of the verb and the word "gdyby" (if).
To form the real conditional, you need to conjugate the verb in the conditional mood, and then add the word "gdyby" at the beginning of the sentence.
Here is the conjugation of the verb "mówić" (to speak) in the conditional mood for each grammatical person:
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| mówiłbym | moo-VEEw-bim | I would speak |
| mówiłbyś | moo-VEEw-bish | You would speak (singular) |
| mówiłby | moo-VEEw-bih | He/She/It would speak |
| mówilibyśmy | moo-vee-lee-BISH-mih | We would speak |
| mówilibyście | moo-vee-lee-BISH-chyeh | You would speak (plural) |
| mówiliby | moo-vee-LEE-bih | They would speak |
Here are some examples of how to form real conditional sentences in Polish:
- If I had more time, I would learn Polish better.
"Gdyby miał więcej czasu, mówiłbym lepiej po polsku."
- If you knew him better, you would like him.
"Gdybyś go lepiej znał, polubiłbyś go."
- If he had enough money, he would buy a new car.
"Gdyby miał wystarczająco dużo pieniędzy, kupiłby nowy samochód."
Unreal Conditional Sentences
Unreal conditional sentences express hypothetical or impossible situations. They are formed using the past tense of the verb and the conditional mood of the verb.
To form the unreal conditional, you need to conjugate the verb in the past tense, and then add the conditional mood of the verb and the word "gdyby" (if) at the beginning of the sentence.
Here is the conjugation of the verb "mówić" (to speak) in the past tense for each grammatical person:
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| mówiłem | moo-VEE-wem | I spoke |
| mówiłeś | moo-VEE-wesh | You spoke (singular) |
| mówił | MOO-veew | He/She/It spoke |
| mówiliśmy | moo-vee-LEE-shmih | We spoke |
| mówiliście | moo-vee-LEE-shchyeh | You spoke (plural) |
| mówili | moo-VEE-lee | They spoke |
Here are some examples of how to form unreal conditional sentences in Polish:
- If I knew Polish better, I would have more job opportunities.
"Gdybym lepiej znał polski, miałbym więcej możliwości zawodowych."
- If I were rich, I would travel the world.
"Gdybym był bogaty, podróżowałbym po świecie."
- If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
"Gdybym ciężej się uczył, zdałbym egzamin."
Conclusion
Learning how to form conditional sentences in Polish is an essential step in mastering the language. Not only will it help you express hypothetical situations, but it will also allow you to communicate more effectively with native Polish speakers in everyday situations.
I hope this lesson has been helpful to you, and feel free to use these examples when practicing or speaking Polish with others.
Sources
Congratulations on finishing this lesson! Explore these related pages to keep learning: Adverbs & Verbs and Tenses.
Other Lessons
- Future and Conditional Tenses
- Indefinite Articles in Polish
- mieć to have
- Conditional Mood
- Questions
- Plural
- Definite Articles in Polish
- Negation
- Adjectives