Polish Cases
Polish is an inflected language. This means that words (nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and demonstratives) change their endings depending on their function in the sentence. These changes are called Cases (Przypadki).
There are 7 Cases in Polish. Here is what they do:
- Nominative (Mianownik): The Subject (Dictionary form). Answers: Who is doing it?
- Accusative (Biernik): The Direct Object. Answers: Whom/what am I seeing/liking?
- Instrumental (Narzędnik): The Tool/Company. Answers: With whom/what?
- Locative (Miejscownik): The Location. Answers: About whom/what? (Always with prepositions).
- Dative (Celownik): The Recipient. Answers: To whom/what?
- Genitive (Dopełniacz): The Possessor/Negation. Answers: Of whom/what?
- Vocative (Wołacz): The Address. Used when calling someone.
Personal Pronouns Table
English
| Nominative
| Accusative
| Instrumental
| Locative
| Dative
| Genitive
|
I
| ja
| mnie
| mną
| mnie
| mnie / mi
| mnie
|
you (sg)
| ty
| ciebie / cię
| tobą
| tobie
| tobie / ci
| ciebie / cię
|
he
| on
| jego / go
| nim
| nim
| jemu / mu
| jego / go
|
she
| ona
| ją
| nią
| niej
| jej
| jej
|
it
| ono
| je
| nim
| nim
| jemu / mu
| jego / go
|
we
| my
| nas
| nami
| nas
| nam
| nas
|
you (pl)
| wy
| was
| wami
| was
| wam
| was
|
they
| oni / one
| ich
| nimi
| nich
| im
| ich
|
Note: Vocative is usually the same as Nominative for pronouns, so it is omitted.
Examples:
- Nom: ja czytam.
- Acc: lubię cię.
- Instr: idę z tobą.
- Loc: mówię o was.
- Dat: daj mi to.
- Gen: nie ma ich.
2. Noun Endings Table
This table shows how the Noun endings change.
Key: - means zero ending (drop the last vowel).
Gender
| Nom
| Acc
| Instr
| Loc
| Dat
| Gen
| Voc
|
Masc Object
| cons.
| cons.
| -em
| -ie / -u
| -owi / -u
| -u / -a
| -ie / -u
|
Masc Person
| cons.
| -a
| -em
| -ie / -u
| -owi
| -a
| -ie / -u
|
Feminine
| -a
| -ę
| -ą
| -ie / -y
| -ie / -y
| -y / -i
| -o
|
Neuter
| -o
| -o
| -em
| -ie / -u
| -u
| -a
| -o
|
Plural (Men)
| -i / -y
| -ów
| -ami
| -ach
| -om
| -ów
| -i / -y
|
Plural (Other)
| -y / -e
| -y / -e
| -ami
| -ach
| -om
| -
| -y / -e
|
Examples:
- Fem: mama (nom) -> mamę (acc) -> z mamą (instr) -> o mamie (loc)
- Masc: brat (nom) -> brata (acc) -> z bratem (instr) -> o bracie (loc)
- Neut: okno (nom) -> okno (acc) -> z oknem (instr) -> w oknie (loc)
3. Adjectives, Demonstratives & Possessives
Since these words usually "rhyme" or follow similar patterns, they are grouped here.
(Format: Adjective / Demonstrative / Possessive).
Gender | Nominative | Accusative | Instrumenta | Locative | Dative | Genitive |
Masc Object
| -y ten mój | -y ten mój | -ym tym moim | -ym tym moim | -emu temu mojemu | -ego tego mojego |
Masc Person
| -y ten mój | -ego tego mojego | -ym tym moim | -ym tym moim | -emu temu mojemu | -ego tego mojego |
Feminine
| -a ta moja | -ą tę moją | -ą tą moją | -ej tej mojej | -ej tej mojej | -ej tej mojej |
Neuter
| -e to moje | -e to moje | -ym tym moim | -ym tym moim | -emu temu mojemu | -ego tego mojego |
Plural (Men)
| -i / -y ci moi | -ych tych moich | -ymi tymi moimi | -ych tych moich | -ym tym moim | -ych tych moich |
Plural (Other)
| -e te moje | -e te moje | -ymi tymi moimi | -ych tych moich | -ym tym moim | -ych tych moich |
Examples:
- Nom: ten dobry dom
- Acc: widzę ten dobry dom (Object) / widzę tego dobrego chłopca (Person)
- Instr: z tą dobrą kobietą
- Loc: o tym dobrym oknie
Read More about: Polish Accusative, Polish Instrumental, Polish Locative, Polish Dative, Polish Genitive, Polish Vocative