Lesson 14 – Possessive Pronouns

Welcome back! In this lesson, we’re diving into possessive pronouns in Polish. These pronouns help us show ownership and describe relationships between people and objects. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to confidently use possessive pronouns to talk about your belongings, family, and more. Let’s get started!

Why Learn Possessive Pronouns?

Possessive pronouns are essential for everyday conversations. They allow you to:

• Talk about your belongings (e.g., mój telefon – my phone).
• Describe relationships (e.g., moja mama – my mom).
• Make your sentences more precise and natural.

Singular Possessive Pronouns

In Polish, possessive pronouns change depending on the gender and number of the noun they modify. Here’s how they work in the singular:

Examples:

• To jest mój samochód. – This is my car.
• Gdzie jest twoja książka? – Where is your book?
• Jego siostra jest miła. – His sister is nice.
• Jej biuro jest duże. – Her office is big.

Plural Possessive Pronouns

For plural nouns, possessive pronouns also change based on the gender of the noun. Here’s how they work:

Examples:

• To jest nasz dom. – This is our house.
• Wasza szkoła jest duża. – Your school is big.
• Ich mieszkanie jest nowoczesne. – Their apartment is modern.

Using Possessive Pronouns in Context

Let’s see how these pronouns work in real-life sentences:

1. Talking About Belongings:
   • To jest mój telefon. – This is my phone.
   • Gdzie jest twoja torba? – Where is your bag?
   • Jego samochód jest szybki. – His car is fast.
2. Describing Relationships:
   • Moja mama jest nauczycielką. – My mom is a teacher.
   • Nasz przyjaciel mieszka w Warszawie. – Our friend lives in Warsaw.
   • Ich dziecko jest małe. – Their child is small.

Grammar Notes

1. Agreement with Nouns:
   • Possessive pronouns must agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify. For example:
     • mój dom (my house – masculine), moja książka (my book – feminine), moje dziecko (my child – neuter).
2. Plural Forms:
   • In the plural, masculine animate nouns (e.g., przyjaciel – friend) use a different form than masculine inanimate, feminine, or neuter nouns.

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with the correct possessive pronoun:
   • To jest ___ (my) książka.
   • Gdzie jest ___ (your) telefon?
   • ___ (His) siostra jest miła.
   • ___ (Our) dom jest duży.
2. Translate These Sentences:
   • This is her car.
   • Where is their dog?
   • Our teacher is very kind.
   • His book is on the table.
3. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Write 5 sentences using possessive pronouns. For example:
   • To jest mój laptop. – This is my laptop.
   • Jej kot jest mały. – Her cat is small.

Cultural Tip: Talking About Family

In Poland, family is very important, and possessive pronouns are often used to talk about family members. For example:

• Moja rodzina jest duża. – My family is big.
• Jego brat jest lekarzem. – His brother is a doctor.
• Nasza babcia mieszka na wsi. – Our grandmother lives in the countryside.

Homework

1. Write 10 sentences using possessive pronouns. Include examples of singular and plural nouns.
2. Practice describing your belongings and family members using possessive pronouns.
3. Bonus: Look up 5 new nouns and practice using them with possessive pronouns.

That’s it for Lesson 14! You’ve now mastered possessive pronouns in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using them effortlessly in conversations. Do zobaczenia! 😊