Polish/Noun cases

Noun cases

There are seven cases of noun and adjective declension in Polish. So far we have only introduced the nominative (mianownik) and the accusative (biernik), in Polish:Basic sentences 1. The whole list, in traditional order, is:

• Nominative (mianownik)
• Genitive (dopełniacz)
• Dative (celownik)
• Accusative (biernik)
• Instrumental (narzędnik)
• Locative (miejscownik)
• Vocative (wołacz)

Nominative

No need to memorize endings as nouns and modifiers are in this case. Use the basic, unmarked, dictionary forms.

• Indicates the subject of a sentence.
  • Gosia pisze książkę. - Gosia is writing a book. (Gosia in nominative because she is the subject of the sentence)

• Used for most lone adjectives and sentences of the type "To jest X".
  • Piotr jest przystojny. - Piotr is handsome. (przystojny is in the nominative)
  • To jest moja żona. - This is my wife. (moja żona is in the nominative)

Genitive

• Used to indicate possession. Often corresponds to English 's or of:
  • Adam widzi kota Agnieszki - Adam sees Agnieszka's cat (Agnieszka in genitive)
  • Kot Piotra pije mleko - Piotr's cat drinks milk (Piotr in genitive)

• Used with units or amounts:
  • puszka piwa - a can of beer (beer in genitive)

• Used after certain prepositions such as dla, do, od.

• Used for the direct object in a negative sentence (Only if the positive sentence would use the accusative!):
  • Kot pije mleko - The cat drinks milk. (Milk in the accusative)
  • Kot nie pije mleka - The cat doesn't drink milk. (Milk in genitive)
  • Agnieszka jest dziewczyną - Agnieszka is a girl. (Girl in instrumental)
  • Adam nie jest dziewczyną - Adam is not a girl. (Girl remains in the instrumental)
  • Agnieszka daje kotu mleko - Agnieszka gives milk to the cat (Milk in the accusative, cat in the dative)
  • Agnieszka nie daje kotu mleka - Agnieszka doesn't give milk to the cat (Milk is now in the genitive, cat still in the dative).

Dative

• Indicates the indirect object. To whom something is given, or action for somebody:
  • Basia daje kotu mleko - Basia gives milk to the cat. (Cat is in the dative.)
  • Znajdę Ci dom. - I'll find you a house (for you).

• After certain verbs, like dziękować komuś (to thank someone), pomóc komuś (to help someone), wierzyć komuś (to believe someone)

• expressions of the type:
  • Jest mi zimno - I'm cold
  • Jest nam smutno - We're feeling sad
  • Będzie wam trudniej... - It will be more difficult for you guys...
  • Śniło jej się, że... - She dreamt that...

• when something is taken away or something befalls someone
  • Zdechł im pies - Their dog died
  • Wzięli mi komputer - They took away my computer
  • Zgasła mojemu sąsiadowi nadzieja - My neighbor's hopes were extinguished.

Accusative

• Indicates the direct object of the sentence
  • Piotr kocha Kasię. - Piotr loves Kasia.
  • Bożena śpiewa piosenkę. - Bożena is singing a song.

• Used with some prepositions to indicate a motion/change (Note that the same preposition + locative or, more rarely the instrumental, indicates a state/condition)
  • "na stole" - on the table (a state/condition, so you need to use the locative)
  • "na stół" - onto the table (motion, so accusative)
  • "na poczcie" - at the post office (state/condition so locative)
  • "na pocztę" - to the post office (motion so accusative)
  • "pod stołem" - under the table (a state/condition, pod is one of those prepostions which take the instrumental, not the locative)
  • "pod stół" - towards and under the table (motion so accusative)

Exception: The preposition "w" (in) takes the locative when indicating a state/condition, but to imply change you must use the preposition "do" + genitive.

• "Jestem w sklepie" (I am in the shop), but "Idę do sklepu" (I am going to the shop) instead of "Idę w sklep".

Instrumental

• Indicates the tool or means
  • Basia jedzie samochodem - Basia is driving a car. (The car is the tool or means so it needs to be in the instrumental)

• A few prepositions, like "z" ("with") or "za":
  • Adam jest z Basią - Adam is with Basia (May either mean "in this moment", or more permanently, for example as boy- and girlfriend.)

• With certain verbs "być" (to be), "zostać" (to become), "interesować się czymś/kimś" (to be interested in something):
  • Basia jest dziewczyną - Basia is a girl.
  • Adam jest chłopakiem - Adam is a boy.
  • Marzena interesuje się modą - Marzena is interested in fashion.
  • Piotr jest przystojnym chłopakiem. - Piotr is a handsome guy.

Exceptions: Most lone adjectives and "To jest X".

• Piotr jest przystojny. - Piotr is handsome. (przystojny is in the nominative)
• To jest moja żona. - This is my wife. (moja żona is in the nominative)

Locative

• Never used alone; only in connection with certain prepositions, like "w" (in) and "o" (about).
  • Chłopak myśli o dziewczynie - The boy is thinking about the girl.
  • Adam jest w banku. - Adam is in the bank.

Vocative

• Used to address someone directly

• Often replaced by the nominative in colloquial language, however the vocative remains common in the following situations:
  • To address someone in a rude or offensive manner (A phrase like ty kretynie! ("you cretin!") or ty idioto ("you idiot!") can only be expressed in the vocative, never in the nominative).
  • In formal situations, Panie Kazimierzu, niech pan przyniesie te klucze.
  • In affectionate contexts, such as Kocham Cię Krzysiu! ("I love you, Chris!")

Only masculine and feminine singulars have a separate form.

Before declension tables are provided, let's take a look at adjectives:

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