Mastering the future tense in Polish is an essential step in expressing your plans, dreams, and goals. In this lesson, we’ll break down how to use the future tense, introduce common jobs and professions, and explore the Instrumental case (Narzędnik), which is crucial for describing professions and identities. By the end, you’ll be able to talk confidently about your future in Polish!
1. Understanding the Future Tense in Polish
There are two ways to express the future in Polish: simple future (for perfective verbs) and compound future (for imperfective verbs).
1.1. Simple Future (Perfective Verbs)
If you use a perfective verb (which implies a completed action), the future tense is simple:
- Kupię samochód. – I will buy a car.
- Zadzwonię do ciebie. – I will call you.
- Zjem obiad. – I will eat lunch.
Perfective verbs already include the idea of completion, so they do not need auxiliary verbs.
1.2. Compound Future (Imperfective Verbs)
For ongoing or repeated future actions, use będę + infinitive (imperfective verb).
| Subject | Future Auxiliary (będę) | Example (czytać – to read) |
|---|---|---|
| Ja (I) | będę | Będę czytać książkę. (I will be reading a book.) |
| Ty (You) | będziesz | Będziesz pracować jutro. (You will be working tomorrow.) |
| On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It) | będzie | Ona będzie mieszkać w Krakowie. (She will live in Kraków.) |
| My (We) | będziemy | Będziemy uczyć się polskiego. (We will be learning Polish.) |
| Wy (You all) | będziecie | Będziecie podróżować po Europie. (You all will be traveling around Europe.) |
| Oni/One (They) | będą | Oni będą studiować medycynę. (They will be studying medicine.) |
Examples:
- Będę mówić po polsku. – I will speak Polish.
- Będziemy oglądać film. – We will watch a movie.
- Będą czekać na nas. – They will be waiting for us.
Use będę + infinitive for things you are planning to do over time!
2. Jobs & Professions in Polish
When talking about professions in Polish, remember that job titles often change based on gender:
| Profession | Masculine | Feminine |
| Doctor | lekarz | lekarka |
| Teacher | nauczyciel | nauczycielka |
| Engineer | inżynier | inżynierka |
| Lawyer | prawnik | prawniczka |
| Artist | artysta | artystka |
| Writer | pisarz | pisarka |
| Waiter | kelner | kelnerka |
| Driver | kierowca | kierowczyni (rare) |
Examples:
- Jestem nauczycielem. – I am a teacher. (male speaker)
- Jestem nauczycielką. – I am a teacher. (female speaker)
- On będzie lekarzem. – He will be a doctor.
- Ona będzie prawniczką. – She will be a lawyer.
3. Case 5: Instrumental (Narzędnik) – Describing Professions and Identities
The Instrumental case (Narzędnik) is used after verbs like być (to be) to describe professions and roles.
Instrumental Endings:
| Gender | Singular Ending | Example |
| Masculine | -em | Jestem studentem. (I am a student.) |
| Feminine | -ą | Jestem nauczycielką. (I am a teacher.) |
| Neuter | -em | Jestem dzieckiem. (I am a child.) |
| Plural | -ami | Jesteśmy lekarzami. (We are doctors.) |
Examples:
- Będę inżynierem. – I will be an engineer. (male speaker)
- Będę inżynierką. – I will be an engineer. (female speaker)
- On będzie policjantem. – He will be a policeman.
- Ona będzie artystką. – She will be an artist.
💡 TIP: When saying what you are (your job, nationality, or role), use Instrumental case.
4. Practice: Talk About Your Future Plans!
A great way to reinforce what you’ve learned is to talk about your future plans.
🎧 Practice speaking: Try saying the following sentences aloud:
- Będę mieszkać w Polsce. – I will live in Poland.
- Będę pracować jako lekarz/lekarzka. – I will work as a doctor.
- Będziemy podróżować po Europie. – We will travel around Europe.
- Ona będzie nauczycielką. – She will be a teacher.
- Będziesz uczyć się języka polskiego. – You will study Polish.
📝 Writing practice: Write 5 sentences about your future using będę + infinitive and Instrumental case for professions.
Summary
- Future Tense: Use będę + infinitive for continuous actions and simple future for perfective verbs.
- Professions: Job titles change based on gender.
- Instrumental Case: Used for professions, roles, and describing identity.
- Practice: Speak and write about your future plans in Polish!
By practicing daily and applying what you’ve learned, you’ll become more confident in talking about your future in Polish. Keep learning and never stop practicing! 🇵🇱💪
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