Lesson 17 – Adjectives

Welcome back! In this lesson, we’re diving into descriptive adjectives in Polish. Adjectives are essential for adding detail and color to your sentences, whether you’re describing people, objects, or places. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to use adjectives confidently, ensuring they agree with the gender and number of the nouns they describe. Let’s get started!

Why Learn Descriptive Adjectives?

Adjectives help you:

• Add detail to your descriptions (e.g., duży dom – a big house).
• Make your sentences more vivid and engaging.
• Practice noun-adjective agreement, a key part of Polish grammar.

Common Descriptive Adjectives

Here are some of the most useful adjectives in Polish, along with their masculine and feminine forms:

Using Adjectives in Sentences

In Polish, adjectives must agree with the gender and number of the noun they describe. Here’s how it works:

1. Masculine Nouns: Use the masculine form of the adjective.
   • duży dom – a big house.
   • wysoki mężczyzna – a tall man.
2. Feminine Nouns: Use the feminine form of the adjective.
   • duża książka – a big book.
   • wysoka kobieta – a tall woman.
3. Neuter Nouns: Use the neuter form of the adjective (usually ends in -e).
   • duże okno – a big window.
   • piękne dziecko – a beautiful child.
4. Plural Nouns: Adjectives change based on the gender of the noun in the plural.
   • duże domy – big houses (masculine inanimate).
   • duże książki – big books (feminine).
   • duże dzieci – big children (neuter).

Example Sentences:

• Mój brat jest wysoki i inteligentny. – My brother is tall and intelligent.
• Moja siostra jest mała, ale bardzo miła. – My sister is small but very nice.
• Ten dom jest stary i brzydki. – This house is old and ugly.
• Ta książka jest piękna. – This book is beautiful.

Grammar Notes

1. Adjective Endings:
   • Masculine: -y or -i (e.g., duży, miły).
   • Feminine: -a (e.g., duża, miła).
   • Neuter: -e (e.g., duże, miłe).
2. Plural Forms:
   • Masculine personal: -i (e.g., duzi mężczyźni – big men).
   • Non-masculine personal: -e (e.g., duże domy – big houses).
3. Position of Adjectives:
   • Adjectives usually come before the noun they describe. For example:
     • piękny kwiat – a beautiful flower.
     • stary samochód – an old car.

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with the correct adjective form:
   • Ten ___ (big) dom jest ___ (beautiful).
   • Ta ___ (small) książka jest ___ (interesting).
   • Moja ___ (young) siostra jest ___ (nice).
   • Ten ___ (tall) mężczyzna jest ___ (intelligent).
2. Translate These Sentences:
   • My grandmother is old but very kind.
   • This car is big and fast.
   • Her brother is tall and handsome.
   • Our house is small but cozy.
3. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Write 5 sentences describing people or objects using adjectives. For example:
   • Mój tata jest wysoki i silny. – My dad is tall and strong.
   • Ta sukienka jest piękna. – This dress is beautiful.

Cultural Tip: Describing People and Places

In Poland, people often use descriptive adjectives to talk about their surroundings and loved ones. For example:

• Mój dom jest mały, ale przytulny. – My house is small but cozy.
• Moja babcia jest bardzo miła. – My grandmother is very kind.

These phrases are great for practicing adjectives and sounding more natural in Polish.

Homework

1. Write 10 sentences using descriptive adjectives. Include examples of masculine, feminine, neuter, and plural nouns.
2. Practice describing your family members, home, or favorite objects using adjectives.
3. Bonus: Look up 5 new adjectives and practice using them in sentences.

That’s it for Lesson 17! You’ve now mastered descriptive adjectives in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be adding vivid details to your sentences like a pro. Do zobaczenia!