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Having a really hard time with Polish cases

posts: 17

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Oct 3, 07, 11:48 #1

I generally do really well in my Polish course, but lately I am having a real hard time trying to determine when to use which case. I understand how to change the case endings, however when to use them is becoming a nightmare. I have just started my third Polish course and it is becoming increasingly difficult because I do not understand how to do this. We are writing stories and what not and my cases are all over the place. If anyone can give me an explanation or a thorough reference book I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks :)

MichalThreads: - Posts: 2,408 Joined: Feb 27, 07 ♂	Oct 3, 07, 12:00 #2
There are plenty of good books on the market and Colloquial Polish by W Mazur is a very good buy should you not already have a copy.

kochanieThreads: 5 Posts: 125 Joined: Aug 13, 07 ♀	Oct 3, 07, 12:12 #3
Michal, this was so polite!! x

z_dariusThreads: 22 Posts: 5,091 Joined: Oct 18, 07 ♂	Oct 19, 07, 09:56 #4
The rules of Polish grammar in tabular formats (at least most of them). The rules are explained in both Polish and English. Good luck: http://free.of.pl/g/grzegorj/gram/gram00.html

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Edited by: Marek Oct 19, 07, 15:58 #5

Hi,

For my two zloty, i.e. euros, worth, cases in any language are not transparent in the beginning to intermediate stages (just try German, for instance, much less Finnish or Hungarian, with respectively 32 such cases, on for size!!!).

Attempt instead to learn them in context. I don't know either your Polish level or your instructor's method, but I dare say, that just drilling cases all class long, is clearly drudgery and NOT the best way to do things. In the long run too, it is mostly likely not the most productive.

Admittedly, memorization/repetition, should be contextual, i.e. showing situations where, for example the instrumental vs. the dative case are used, rather than merely through dry charts or tables. The latter is a supplement rather than a subsitute, for more use-friendly learning.

Marek

HAL9009Threads: 2 Posts: 329 Joined: Mar 13, 07 ♂	Oct 22, 07, 19:00 #6
Try these two grammar books, both free downloads. You may find them useful: Small grammar book h t t p://polish.slavic.pitt.edu/firstyear/nutshell.pdf and big grammar book h t t p://polish.slavic.pitt.edu/grammar.pdf The larger book goes through the cases in some detail. The remainder of the material on the web site is also well worth a look.

HAL9009Threads: 2 Posts: 329 Joined: Mar 13, 07 ♂	Oct 22, 07, 19:01 #7
...oop, forgot the website url: h t t p://polish.slavic.pitt.edu/sitemap.html

tereniaThreads: 2 Posts: 2 Joined: Oct 3, 07 ♀	Oct 23, 07, 23:19 #8
Thank you all so much for your help and information, I will check it all out and hopefully get a better understanding when to use the cases. I am so excited to finally have some helpful guides. Thank you again! Terenia

portaThreads: 24 Posts: 354 Joined: Jul 16, 07 ♂	Oct 23, 07, 23:43 #9
I understand your problem ,identifying the cases is my biggest problem also. :)

telefonitika	Oct 24, 07, 03:18 #10
Quoting: terenia I am so excited to finally have some helpful guides its amazing what you can find :) try the videos by janusz

patryk_sudolThreads: 12 Posts: 41 Joined: Sep 16, 07 ♂	Dec 6, 07, 14:29 #11
If I use the verb byc, what do I use as the direct object with pronouns?

z_dariusThreads: 22 Posts: 5,091 Joined: Oct 18, 07 ♂	Dec 6, 07, 14:42 #12
Quoting: patryk_sudol If I use the verb byc, what do I use as the direct object with pronouns? do you mean conjugation? See this: URL

Krzysiu	Apr 30, 10, 09:08 #13
I have just dicovered some lessons with polish cases. Have a look at this: youtube.com/watch?v=pady3KjFOUk youtube.com/watch?v=w5NmZHysIgM youtube.com/watch?v=-2Jp4WudwPc youtube.com/watch?v=Bft7pfXczaU I hope it helps

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Edited by: AdamKadmon Apr 30, 10, 09:59 #14

Try A Grammar Of Contemporary Polish by Oscar E. Swan, page 327 - Uses of the Cases

KINDS OF CASE USES

There are too many possible noun-functions in sentences, and too few
Polish cases, for each noun-function to be associated with a specific case.
Instead, the same case may be used to express different functions, and dif-
ferent functions may be expressed not only by case-endings alone but also
with prepositions plus cases. By and large, prepositions serve to make general
case meanings more specific. As a rough characterization, one may dis-
tinguish among (a) “bare” or basic syntactic uses of cases; (b) governed uses
of cases, including especially uses after prepositions and verbs; (c) idiomatic
uses of cases, often figurative extensions of the basic case-use, used to express
adverbial ideas. For example, the Genitive case is used BASICALLY to express
noun-to-noun relationships, as in dom ojca house of father, father’s house.
Additionally, the Genitive is GOVERNED (required) after certain prepositions
and verbs, as in bez wody without water-G, or s∏ucham muzyki I’m listening to
music-G. Finally, the Genitive occurs IDIOMATICALLY, as in the expressions of
dates; see pierwszego maja on the first of May.

You can find more detail in the book.

WitamyThreads: 1 Posts: 1 Joined: Aug 20, 11 ♂	Jan 22, 12, 16:58 #15
Merged: Polish noun cases Can someone explain the different endings cases and genders because I'm totally lost

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Edited by: catsoldier Jan 22, 12, 18:12 #16

Witamy:

Can someone explain the different endings cases and genders because I'm totally lost

You need a book and maybe a teacher really. I recommend Hurra Po Polsku 1 which covers 5 of the cases with exercises, rules and examples etc. This video may help you:

There are 3 genders.

There are 7 cases.

There are rules for declining nouns and adjectives based on gender and case, of course there are exceptions also which need to be learnt.

So for butelka there are 7 possible endings in singular and 7 possible endings in plural.

The video left out the case wołacz.

catsoldierThreads: 90 Posts: 697 Joined: Sep 27, 09 ♂	Jan 22, 12, 18:21 #17
Gumishu has an explanation about cases here that I found interesting: http://www.polishforums.com/grammar-usage-18/this-proper-grammar-56725 /#msg1228188

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