Language/Czech/Grammar/Personal-Pronouns

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Welcome to the exciting world of Czech grammar! In this lesson, we will delve into personal pronouns, an essential building block of the Czech language. Understanding how to use personal pronouns not only helps you form sentences but also brings you one step closer to sounding like a native speaker.

Personal pronouns in Czech are quite fascinating. They change based on the case they are used in, which is somewhat different from English. This may seem daunting at first, but don't worry! We will break everything down into manageable bits, and by the end of this lesson, you will feel confident using personal pronouns in your conversations.

Here's what you can expect to learn in this lesson:

• The importance of personal pronouns in Czech

• Overview of personal pronouns in different cases

• Examples of sentences using personal pronouns

• Exercises to practice what you've learned

So, let's get started!

The Importance of Personal Pronouns in Czech

Personal pronouns are words that refer to specific people or things. They are essential for effective communication, as they help to identify who is being talked about without the need to repeat names constantly. In Czech, personal pronouns also change form depending on their grammatical role in a sentence (like the subject or object), which adds a layer of complexity compared to English.

In Czech, personal pronouns can express the following:

• Subject of the sentence (who is performing the action)

• Object of the sentence (who is receiving the action)

• Possession (to indicate who owns something)

By mastering personal pronouns, you’ll not only improve your grammatical skills but also enhance your ability to express yourself clearly and accurately.

Overview of Personal Pronouns

Czech has seven personal pronouns, which are as follows:

• 1st Person Singular: já (I)

• 2nd Person Singular: ty (you - informal)

• 3rd Person Singular: on (he), ona (she), ono (it)

• 1st Person Plural: my (we)

• 2nd Person Plural: vy (you - formal or plural)

• 3rd Person Plural: oni (they)

Let’s take a closer look at these pronouns, including their forms in different grammatical cases: nominative, accusative, dative, genitive, locative, and instrumental.

Nominative Case (Subject)

The nominative case is used for the subject of the sentence. Here’s how the personal pronouns appear in the nominative case:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
já	[jaː]	I
ty	[tɪ]	you (informal)
on	[ɔn]	he
ona	[ɔnɑ]	she
ono	[ɔnɔ]	it
my	[mɪ]	we
vy	[vɪ]	you (formal/plural)
oni	[ɔɲɪ]	they

Accusative Case (Object)

The accusative case is used for the direct object of the sentence. Here’s how the personal pronouns change:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
mě	[mɲɛ]	me
tě	[tɪ]	you (informal)
jeho	[jɛɦɔ]	him
ji	[jɪ]	her
to	[tɔ]	it
nás	[naːs]	us
vás	[vaːs]	you (formal/plural)
je	[jɛ]	them

Dative Case (Indirect Object)

The dative case indicates the indirect object of the sentence, or to whom something is given:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
mně	[mɲɛ]	to me
ti	[tɪ]	to you (informal)
jemu	[jɛmu]	to him
jí	[jɪ]	to her
tomu	[tɔmu]	to it
nám	[naːm]	to us
vám	[vaːm]	to you (formal/plural)
jim	[jɪm]	to them

Genitive Case (Possession)

The genitive case shows possession or ownership:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
mě	[mɲɛ]	my
tě	[tɪ]	your (informal)
jeho	[jɛɦɔ]	his
její	[jɛjɪ]	her
jeho	[jɛɦɔ]	its
naše	[naʃɛ]	our
vaše	[vaʃɛ]	your (formal/plural)
jejich	[jɛjɪx]	their

Locative Case (Location)

The locative case indicates the location or context in which something exists:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
mně	[mɲɛ]	about me
tobě	[tɔbɛ]	about you (informal)
něm	[ɲɛm]	about him
ní	[nɪ]	about her
něm	[ɲɛm]	about it
nás	[naːs]	about us
vás	[vaːs]	about you (formal/plural)
nich	[nɪx]	about them

Instrumental Case (Means)

The instrumental case is used to express the means by which something is done:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
mnou	[mɲou]	with me
tebou	[tɛbou]	with you (informal)
ním	[ɲiːm]	with him
ní	[nɪ]	with her
tím	[tɪːm]	with it
námi	[naːmɪ]	with us
vámi	[vaːmɪ]	with you (formal/plural)
jimi	[jɪmɪ]	with them

Examples of Personal Pronouns in Sentences

Now, let's see how these personal pronouns fit into sentences. Here are several examples, showcasing each pronoun in context:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
Já jsem student.	[jaː sɛm ˈstudɛnt]	I am a student.
Ty jsi moje kamarádka.	[tɪ jɪ mɔjɛ ˈkamaraːtka]	You are my friend (female).
On má knihu.	[ɔn maː ˈkɲɪhu]	He has a book.
Ona je šťastná.	[ɔnɑ jɛ ˈʃtʃastnaː]	She is happy.
Ono je malé.	[ɔnɔ jɛ ˈmaːlɛ]	It is small.
My jdeme do parku.	[mɪ ˈjɪdɛm do ˈparku]	We are going to the park.
Vy jste učitel.	[vɪ stɛ ˈʊtʃɪtɛl]	You are a teacher (formal).
Oni hrají fotbal.	[ɔɲɪ ˈɦraji ˈfɔtbal]	They play football.

Exercises to Practice Personal Pronouns

Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are ten exercises designed to help you practice using personal pronouns in various contexts.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct personal pronoun in the nominative case.

1. ___ jsem učitel. (I am a teacher.)

2. ___ je moje sestra. (She is my sister.)

3. ___ jdeme do kina. (We are going to the cinema.)

4. ___ hrají tenis. (They play tennis.)

Answers:

1. Já

2. Ona

3. My

4. Oni

Exercise 2: Match the Pronouns

Match the Czech personal pronouns with their English equivalents.

1. on

2. ona

3. my

4. vy

A. you (formal/plural)

B. he

C. she

D. we

Answers:

1 - B

2 - C

3 - D

4 - A

Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences into Czech using the correct personal pronouns.

1. I see her.

2. You (informal) have a dog.

3. He loves us.

4. They are happy.

Answers:

1. Vidím ji.

2. Ty máš psa.

3. On nás miluje.

4. Oni jsou šťastní.

Exercise 4: Choose the Correct Pronoun

Choose the correct pronoun to complete the sentence.

1. (Já / Ty) mám knihu.

2. (Oni / Ona) jdou domů.

3. (My / Vy) jste šťastní.

4. (On / Ono) je velký.

Answers:

1. Já

2. Oni

3. My

4. Ono

Exercise 5: Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the sentences replacing the nouns with the correct personal pronouns.

1. Jana a Petr jdou na trh. (Jana and Petr are going to the market.)

2. Máma dává jídlo mně. (Mom gives food to me.)

Answers:

1. Oni jdou na trh.

2. Máma dává jídlo mně.

Exercise 6: Identify the Pronouns

Identify the personal pronouns in the following sentences.

1. Ty a já jsme nejlepší kamarádi. (You and I are best friends.)

2. Ona má nový telefon. (She has a new phone.)

Answers:

1. Ty, já

2. Ona

Exercise 7: Correct the Mistakes

Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences.

1. Já jsi šťastná. (I am happy.)

2. Ty mám rád. (I like you.)

Answers:

1. Já jsem šťastná.

2. Já tě mám rád.

Exercise 8: Fill in the Pronouns Based on the Context

Fill in the correct personal pronouns based on the context provided.

1. ___ (female) loves dogs. (She loves dogs.)

2. ___ (plural) are going to the concert. (We are going to the concert.)

Answers:

1. Ona

2. My

Exercise 9: Sentence Formation

Form sentences using the provided personal pronouns.

1. my

2. on

Sample Answers:

1. My jdeme do školy. (We are going to school.)

2. On má rád čokoládu. (He likes chocolate.)

Exercise 10: Personal Pronoun Quiz

Answer the following questions about personal pronouns.

1. What is the 1st person singular pronoun in Czech?

2. How do you say "you" in formal Czech?

Answers:

1. já

2. vy

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully navigated through the intricacies of Czech personal pronouns. By practicing these exercises, you should now feel more comfortable using personal pronouns in various contexts. Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep experimenting with these pronouns in your conversations, and don't hesitate to revisit this lesson whenever you need a refresher.

Keep up the great work, and we look forward to seeing you in the next lesson of our "Complete 0 to A1 Czech Course"!

Table of Contents - Czech Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Consonants
• Vowels
• Accents and Special Characters

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Introduction to Nouns
• Personal Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Verbs

• Introduction to Verbs
• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Introduction to Adjectives
• Introduction to Adverbs
• Comparative and Superlative Forms

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings and Farewells
• Asking for and Giving Information
• Small Talk and Expressing Likes and Dislikes

  ---

At the Restaurant

• Ordering Food
• Asking for the Bill and Tipping
• Dining Etiquette

  ---

Daily Life

• Shopping
• Transportation
• Health and Medical Emergencies

  ---

History and Traditions

• History and Czech Lands
• Festivals and Celebrations
• Czech Cuisine

  ---

Art and Heritage

• Czech Literature
• Architecture and Landmark
• Czech Film and Music

Sources

• Czech pronouns - personal, demonstrative, possessive
• Czech Language/Pronouns - Wikiversity
• Czech Pronouns
• Czech declension - Wikipedia

Other Lessons

• Give your Opinion
• Plural
• Locative Case in Czech
• 0 to A1 Course
• Definite articles in Czech
• Present Tense
• How to Use Have
• Past Tense
• Ablative Case in Czech
• Verb to speak in Czech

◀️ Introduction to Nouns — Previous Lesson

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