Lesson 18 – Nominative

Welcome back! In this lesson, we’re diving into the Nominative Case (Mianownik) in Polish. This is the most basic and essential case, as it’s used for the subject of the sentence. By the end of this lesson, you’ll understand how to identify and use the nominative case correctly, and you’ll be able to build simple sentences with confidence. Let’s get started!

What Is the Nominative Case?

The nominative case is used for:

1. The subject of the sentence (the person or thing performing the action).
   • Mój brat czyta książkę. – My brother is reading a book.
2. Predicate nouns or adjectives (the part of the sentence that describes the subject).
   • Mój brat jest wysoki. – My brother is tall.

The nominative case is the base form of the noun, which you’ll find in dictionaries.

Sentence Structure with the Nominative Case

In Polish, sentences with the nominative case typically follow this structure:

Subject (Nominative) + Verb + Adjective/Noun

Examples:

• Mój brat jest wysoki. – My brother is tall.
• Moja babcia jest miła. – My grandmother is nice.
• To jest moja rodzina. – This is my family.

Nominative Case Endings

Here’s how nouns and adjectives change in the nominative case based on gender and number:

Using the Nominative Case in Sentences

Let’s see how the nominative case works in real-life sentences:

1. Describing People:
   • Mój tata jest inteligentny. – My dad is intelligent.
   • Moja mama jest piękna. – My mom is beautiful.
2. Identifying Objects:
   • To jest mój samochód. – This is my car.
   • To są moje klucze. – These are my keys.
3. Talking About Professions:
   • On jest lekarzem. – He is a doctor.
   • Ona jest nauczycielką. – She is a teacher.

Grammar Notes

1. Subject-Verb Agreement:
   • The verb must agree with the subject in number and person. For example:
     • Ja jestem (I am), ty jesteś (you are), on jest (he is).
2. Predicate Nouns and Adjectives:
   • Predicate nouns and adjectives also take the nominative case. For example:
     • Mój brat jest studentem. – My brother is a student.
     • Ta książka jest ciekawa. – This book is interesting.

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with the correct nominative form:
   • ___ (My brother) jest wysoki.
   • ___ (This) jest moja siostra.
   • ___ (My grandparents) są mili.
   • ___ (This book) jest ciekawa.
2. Translate These Sentences:
   • My sister is young and kind.
   • This is my house.
   • They are students.
   • Her dog is big and friendly.
3. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Write 5 sentences using the nominative case. For example:
   • Mój tata jest inżynierem. – My dad is an engineer.
   • To jest mój kot. – This is my cat.

Cultural Tip: Talking About Family and Professions

In Poland, it’s common to talk about family members and their professions. For example:

• Mój tata jest lekarzem, a moja mama jest nauczycielką. – My dad is a doctor, and my mom is a teacher.
• Moja babcia jest emerytką. – My grandmother is retired.

These phrases are great for practicing the nominative case and building connections with others.

Homework

1. Write 10 sentences using the nominative case. Include examples of masculine, feminine, neuter, and plural nouns.
2. Practice describing your family members, their professions, and their characteristics.
3. Bonus: Look up 5 new nouns and practice using them in the nominative case.

That’s it for Lesson 18! You’ve now mastered the nominative case in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be building sentences like a pro. Do zobaczenia! 😊