Lesson 15 – Questions

Welcome back! In this lesson, we’re diving into question words in Polish. These words are essential for asking questions and engaging in conversations. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to confidently ask and answer questions about people, places, time, and more. Let’s get started!

Why Learn Question Words?

Question words are the backbone of conversations. They allow you to:

• Gather information (e.g., Gdzie jest sklep? – Where is the store?).
• Express curiosity (e.g., Dlaczego to robisz? – Why are you doing that?).
• Build meaningful dialogues with others.

Key Question Words in Polish

Here are the most important question words in Polish, along with their meanings and examples:

Using Question Words in Context

Let’s see how these question words work in real-life conversations:

1. Kto? (Who?):
   • Kto to jest? – Who is this?
   • Kto cię nauczył polskiego? – Who taught you Polish?
2. Co? (What?):
   • Co robisz wieczorem? – What are you doing in the evening?
   • Co to jest? – What is this?
3. Gdzie? (Where?):
   • Gdzie jest stacja kolejowa? – Where is the train station?
   • Gdzie idziesz? – Where are you going?
4. Kiedy? (When?):
   • Kiedy zaczyna się film? – When does the movie start?
   • Kiedy wracasz do domu? – When are you coming back home?
5. Dlaczego? (Why?):
   • Dlaczego płaczesz? – Why are you crying?
   • Dlaczego nie przyszedłeś? – Why didn’t you come?
6. Jak? (How?):
   • Jak się czujesz? – How are you feeling?
   • Jak to działa? – How does this work?
7. Ile? (How much/many?):
   • Ile to kosztuje? – How much does it cost?
   • Ile masz lat? – How old are you?
8. Który? (Which?):
   • Który jest twój samochód? – Which one is your car?
   • Który film oglądasz? – Which movie are you watching?

Grammar Notes

1. Word Order in Questions:
   • In Polish, the question word usually comes at the beginning of the sentence. For example:
     • Gdzie jest sklep? – Where is the store?
     • Kiedy zaczyna się lekcja? – When does the lesson start?
2. Intonation:
   • In spoken Polish, questions often have a rising intonation at the end. For example:
     • Co robisz? – What are you doing?

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the questions with the correct question word:
   • ___ jest twój dom? (Where)
   • ___ masz na imię? (What)
   • ___ to kosztuje? (How much)
   • ___ idziesz do szkoły? (When)
2. Translate These Questions:
   • Who is your teacher?
   • What are you eating?
   • Where is the bathroom?
   • Why are you learning Polish?
3. Create Your Own Questions:
   Write 5 questions using different question words. For example:
   • Kto jest twoim najlepszym przyjacielem? – Who is your best friend?
   • Jak się nazywa ta ulica? – What is this street called?

Cultural Tip: Asking Questions in Poland

In Poland, asking questions is a natural part of conversations. Poles are generally friendly and willing to help, so don’t hesitate to ask if you’re unsure about something. For example:

• Przepraszam, gdzie jest poczta? – Excuse me, where is the post office?
• Czy możesz mi pomóc? – Can you help me?

Homework

1. Write 10 questions using different question words. Include a mix of who, what, where, when, why, and how.
2. Practice asking and answering these questions out loud.
3. Bonus: Record yourself asking questions and listen back to improve your pronunciation.

That’s it for Lesson 15! You’ve now mastered the key question words in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be asking and answering questions like a native speaker. Do zobaczenia! 😊