Which case for adjectives?

When an adjective is used after the verb to be without a noun, should it be in the nominative case, mianownik, or in the instrumental case, narzednik? Examples: 1 On jest smutny/smutnym 2 nie chce byc smutny/smutnym 3 bycie smutny/smutnym jest zle.

Sorry about the lack of Polish characters. Where do I find them?

I think you can say: ex. Jestes mily(Nom), Jestes milym chlopakiem(Inst.)
If you are describing a noun, I think its narzednik and mianowik when just using an adj.
anyways just to be safe use narzednik...

I'm sad (jestem smutny) but if you are in sad mood, it's men you are in smutnym nastroju
you (smutny) (smutnym ...)
she... (smutna) (smutnym ...)
it...(smutne) (smutnym ....)
we... (smutni) (smutnym ....)
you... (smutni) (smutnym ...)
they... (smutni) (smutnym ....)
[they... form for non men] (smutne) (smutnym ....)

1. On jest smutny
2. Nie chce byc smutny
3. Bycie smutnym jest zle



ja (I) ................................... smutna (woman) smutny (man)
ty (you))............................... smutna (woman) smutny (man)
on (he)................................ smutny
ona (she)............................ smutna
ono (it) ............................... smutne

my (we)..................smutni( group of men/or mixed sex group); smutne (group of women)
wy ( You-plural form).......smutni (group of men/or mixed) ; smutne (group of women)
oni (they-masculine form)............... smutni (group of men/or mixed sex group)
one (they-feminine form)..... smutne (group of women)

I have quite a good old fashioned book by B. W. Mazur. Under the title of byc and the nominative. After byc adjectives referring to the subject are in the nom. case. But when the adjective qualifies a noun both are put into the instrumental case. Compare
J jestem stary-nom
Maria jest wysoka-nom
Jestem starym doktorem-inst
Maria jest wysoka zdiewczyna-instrumental

Grammar is practice and there is usually a logic as to why something is used in a certain way, especially in Polish. Why all this terminology of 'mianownik' and 'narzednik'? It is not worth complicating something pratical if you are unable to even use these simple grammar tools in practicle situations.

Thanks. What's the title of your old-fashioned book?

It is the old original version of Colloquial Polish by W. B. Mazur, I have always kept the book from old, well, I say old, from the early 1980's though that is twenty years ago. I picked up a copy for £1.50 at a car boot not so long ago!

Mind you to finish off answering the question, in dictionaries, you will normally see byc followed by the adjective in the instrumental case even without an added noun.

declination please:

miękki singular masculine
miękka singular feminine
miękkie singular neuter

miękcy plural m, n?
?????? plural f?

m , f , n , plural m , plural f/n
Nom miękki miękka miękkie miękcy miękkie
Gen miękkiego miękkiej miękkiego miękkich miękkich
Dat miękkiemu miękkiej miękkiemu miękkim miękkim
Acc miękkiego miękką miękkie miękkich miękkie
Inst miękkim miękką miękkim miękkimi miękkimi
Loc miękkim miękkiej miękkim miękkich miękkich
Voc miękki miękka miękkie miękcy miękkie

ja miękki
ty miękki
on miękki
ona miękka
ono miękkie
my miękcy
wy miękcy
oni miękcy
one miękkie


Please, wait for others to confirm that.

confirmed :)


this question is very old, but since it's still unanswered and I've just seen it:
yes, the dictionary gives the instrumental form (masculine, singular) with the infinitive, because that's how you say it.
To be sad - Być smutnym; To become famous - Stawać się sławnym etc.; however, when the auxiliary verb (być, stawać się and similar) is conjugated, you use nominative (feminine or masculine, singular or plural).
Jest smutny. Stała się sławna po zagraniu u Spielberga.

dzięki :)