LANGUAGE LEARNING LAB

So far, we have learned that the Instrumental case goes alongside the verb “to be”. Today we will learn about another place where this case would be used.

Memorize New Vocabulary

Apply It To Sentence Structure

The preposition z often occurs in the same places as it would in English. However, in Polish, adjectives and nouns following this part of speech will find their ending in the Instrumental case.

For example:

Jestem z koleżanką.

            I am with a friend.

Nauczyciel jest z tym studentem. *

            A teacher is with this student.

* Determiners in the Instrumental Case

As you have probably noticed ten (this) changed into tym. Determiners are influenced by the Instrumental case just as nouns and adjectives are. Because ten is masculine, we changed the ending into –ym for the Instrumental case. Look at the table below for more:

Other example:  

On jest z dziadkiem. **

            He is with a grandpa.

** Movable –e–

Do you remember the basic word for grandpa? It is dziadek. However, as you can see from the above example, when we adjust the ending of this word to the Instrumental case ending, the –e– in this word disappears or is moved. Here is how it’s done:

1. the basic word is:                                    dziadek

 

2. delete the –e–:                                         dziadk

 

3. add Instrumental case ending –em        dziadkem

 

4. add –i– because of –k                             dziadkiem

There are many times in the Polish language where the –e– disappears when you adjust the word in any way, such as by adding case endings. Most of the times this happens when a masculine word ends in –ek. However, don’t worry because most dictionaries would always provide you with some sort of marking on words for which this happens.

Here are two other words that we have used in past lessons to which this rule would apply: ołówek, ojciec.

Practice it!

Practice changing the basic form of ołówek into the Instrumental case. Follow the steps from above:

1. the basic word is:                                     ­_________

 

2. delete the –e–:                                          _________

 

3. add Instrumental case ending –em         _________

 

4. add –i– because of –k                              _________

Think you got the hang of it? Let’s try some more. Fill in the blanks below with the Instrumental case form of the words provided:

1. Jestem z __________ . (ta siostra)

2. Mama jest z __________ . (ten syn)

3. Tata jest z __________ . (ten kolega)

*Click here for answer key*

Lesson 23                                                                                                                Lesson 25