Lesson 7 – Simple Sentence

Welcome back! Now that you’ve learned greetings, introductions, numbers, and nationalities, it’s time to start building your own sentences in Polish. In this lesson, we’ll focus on creating simple sentences using the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure. Don’t worry—we’ll keep it fun and practical, so you can start speaking Polish with confidence right away!

Understanding Polish Sentence Structure

Polish, like English, typically follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order. This means the subject (who is doing the action) comes first, followed by the verb (the action), and then the object (what or who the action is directed at). Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Subject: The person or thing performing the action (e.g., Ja – I, Ty – You, On – He).
• Verb: The action or state of being (e.g., mam – have, czytam – read, lubię – like).
• Object: The person or thing receiving the action (e.g., kota – a cat, książkę – a book, kawę – coffee).

Example:

• Ja mam kota. – I have a cat.
  (Subject: Ja – I, Verb: mam – have, Object: kota – a cat)

Flexible Word Order in Polish

While Polish usually follows SVO, its case system allows for more flexibility in word order. This means you can rearrange sentences for emphasis or style, and they’ll still make sense. For example:

1. Standard SVO: Ja mam kota. – I have a cat.
2. Emphasis on the object: Kota mam ja. – It’s a cat that I have.
3. Emphasis on the subject: Ja kota mam. – I’m the one who has a cat.

Don’t worry too much about this flexibility yet—start with SVO, and you’ll naturally pick up other patterns as you progress.

Key Verbs to Get You Started

Here are some common verbs to use in your sentences:

Practice Building Sentences

Let’s start creating simple sentences using the SVO structure. Here’s how:

1. Start with the subject:
   • Ja (I), Ty (You), On (He), Ona (She), My (We), Oni (They).
2. Add a verb:
   • mam (have), czytam (read), lubię (like), jem (eat), piję (drink).
3. Finish with an object:
   • książkę (a book), kawę (coffee), psa (a dog), jabłko (an apple).

Example sentences:

• Ja mam psa. – I have a dog.
• Ty czytasz książkę. – You are reading a book.
• On lubi kawę. – He likes coffee.
• Ona je jabłko. – She is eating an apple.
• My pijemy herbatę. – We are drinking tea.

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with the correct words:
   • Ja ___ (have) kota.
   • Ty ___ (read) książkę.
   • On ___ (likes) kawę.
   • My ___ (drink) herbatę.
2. Translate These Sentences:
   • I have a book.
   • You are eating an apple.
   • She likes tea.
   • We live in Krakow.
3. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Write 5 simple sentences using the SVO structure. For example:
   • Ja mam samochód. – I have a car.
   • Ty lubisz pizzę. – You like pizza.
   • On czyta gazetę. – He is reading a newspaper.

Grammar Notes

1. Noun Cases:
   • The object in a sentence often takes the accusative case. For example:
     • książka (book) becomes książkę.
     • kot (cat) becomes kota.
2. Verb Conjugation:
   • Verbs change depending on the subject. For example:
     • ja mam (I have), ty masz (you have), on ma (he has).

Cultural Tip: Everyday Polish Conversations

In Poland, people often use simple sentences like these in everyday conversations. For example:

• Masz czas? – Do you have time?
• Lubisz polską kuchnię? – Do you like Polish food?
• Gdzie mieszkasz? – Where do you live?

These are great ways to start a conversation and practice your Polish!

Homework

1. Write 10 simple sentences using the SVO structure. Use different subjects, verbs, and objects.
2. Practice saying your sentences out loud. Focus on pronunciation!
3. Bonus: Try rearranging your sentences to emphasize different parts (e.g., Kota mam ja. – It’s a cat that I have).

That’s it for Lesson 7! You’re now ready to start building your own sentences in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be speaking like a pro. Do zobaczenia! 😊