"do I" usage in a question?

chazaThreads: 49 Posts: 266 Joined: Dec 21, 09 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 18:07 #1
how do i say things like ' do I ' in a question. and what does czynić mean. i can say i do, but im stuck on how to say 'do i' thanks chaza

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 18:36 #2
We need context to help you. chaza: what does czynić mean. To do.

chazaThreads: 49 Posts: 266 Joined: Dec 21, 09 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 18:41 #3
well, when i want to say things like. do i need to hold that. do i know you. do i go this way. its the concept of ' do i' im confused with. my book talk a lot of cynić and so on. but im still not clear. thanks

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Edited by: SeanBM Aug 15, 10, 18:43 #4
chaza: its the concept of ' do i' im confused with. Try not to think of it in that context. 'Do' is an auxiliary verb, that is it helps other verbs form tenses. basically you are making the mistake of trying to directly translate from English. That is probably why you are having problems. Try to translate without using 'do'.

♂

Edited by: Richfilth Aug 15, 10, 18:47 #5

In English we have something called Inversion, where you swap words around to make a question with a yes/no answer (which I guess is what you're talking about with "do I...?"

In Polish, there's no inversion. All the words stay in the same sequence as they would in a normal statement, but if you want to make them into a yes/no question, you just stick the marvellous word "czy" at the front. "Czy" doesn't really mean anything*, but it makes questions.

So "I love you" (Kocham cię) becomes "Do I love you?" (Czy kocham cię?) and "I know you" (Znam cię) becomes "Do I know you?" (Czy znam cię?) which are two very odd questions, to be honest. Plus, even at this level, I'm sure I've made a mistake in the Polish somewhere.

Does that make sense?

* it does mean something, but not at this basic stage.

zetigrekThreads: 59 Posts: 2,709 Joined: May 20, 10 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 18:52 #6
chaza: do i need to hold that. czy muszę to trzymać chaza: do i know you. Czy cię znam? Czy my się znamy? (more proper) chaza: do i go this way. ??? czy mam iść tędy? (not sure what you mean)

chazaThreads: 49 Posts: 266 Joined: Dec 21, 09 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 18:52 #7
im not sure, so czy robi ten = do i do that czy potszebuje ten = do i need that czy mam samochódm = do i have a car am i grasping the idea, yet

zetigrekThreads: 59 Posts: 2,709 Joined: May 20, 10 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 18:55 #8
chaza: czy robi ten = do i do that incorrect. should be: czy robię to? chaza: czy potszebuje ten = do i need that incorrect. czy potrzebuję tego? chaza: czy mam samochód = do i have a car correct! :) chaza: am i grasping the idea, yet yes.

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Edited by: SeanBM Aug 15, 10, 18:57 #9
chaza: do i need to hold that. Muszę to trzymać (with the meaning of 'Is it necessary for me to hold that?') chaza: do i know you. znam cię? (note there are two different forms of "to know") chaza: do i go this way. Powinien iść tędy (with the meaning of 'should I go that way?') Richfilth: "Czy" doesn't really mean anything*, but it makes questions. Useful thing to note.

chazaThreads: 49 Posts: 266 Joined: Dec 21, 09 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 18:59 #10
i think i see, it will take a bit more sinking i think. where does czynić fit. that was another word i was confused with.

♂

Aug 15, 10, 19:00 #11

Yes, you're getting the idea, and although zetigrek corrected you, I'm sure most people would understand what you wanted from what you said.

Just remember that the end of the verb changes depending on who is saying the verb (you, me, him, her), so "robić" (to do) becomes "robię" (I do). "Robi" means "he, she, it, Mr or Mrs does."

As for the "to, te, ten, tam, tego" - that's just Polish being stupid, sorry, specific.

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Edited by: SeanBM Aug 15, 10, 19:00 #12
chaza: where does czynić fit. i never use it, it's an old fashioned word. Use 'Robić' it means 'to do' and 'to make'. Do you speak any other languages chaza?

chazaThreads: 49 Posts: 266 Joined: Dec 21, 09 ♂	Edited by: chaza Aug 15, 10, 19:06 #13
speak, no. but i domread and write hebrew, ancient greek, i am playing with hyroglyphics, and latin. but polish is what i speak most of, cause my cousins are polish and i am going there in three weeks. by the way does the same apply to asking 'does'. like ' does that sandwhich taste nice' does your car work does he come here often

♂

Edited by: SeanBM Aug 15, 10, 19:23 #14

chaza:

but i domread and write hebrew, ancient greek, i am playing with hyroglyphics, and latin.

Oh, I don't speak or read or write any of those languages.
But I do speak other languages (none-Slavic) and it helps to think in those terms.

chaza:

but polish is what i speak most of, cause my cousins are polish and i am going there in three weeks.

Cool, let us know if there is anything else we can help you with.

There is quite a useful thread on here Collection of learning resources for learning the Polish language.

chazaThreads: 49 Posts: 266 Joined: Dec 21, 09 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 19:26 #15
if i wanted to say did you get my message czy zrób mój wiadomość is that correct

zetigrekThreads: 59 Posts: 2,709 Joined: May 20, 10 ♂	Edited by: zetigrek Aug 15, 10, 19:32 #16
chaza: if i wanted to say did you get my message czy zrób mój wiadomość is that correct no. Czy otrzymałeś moją wiadomość? you have written something like: Do you do mine message you can drob word "czy", then intonationa (or question mark) will sign it's a question. Otrzymałeś moją wiadomość? is also correct ;)

♂

Edited by: SeanBM Aug 15, 10, 19:35 #17

chaza:

if i wanted to say
did you get my message
czy zrób mój wiadomość

This is a good example of how 'do' is an auxiliary verb and only makes the tense.

(The verb 'to do' is different that is where 'Robić' comes in.)

I usually try to translate direct from Polish (this is where it helps to know other languages)
so:
Czy gotyou my message?

Czy dostałeś moją wiadomość?

A good thin to learn are the verbs conjugation.

I received,
You received,
he/she/it received
We received
You (plural) received
They received

They are crucial to understanding Polish.

chazaThreads: 49 Posts: 266 Joined: Dec 21, 09 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 19:39 #18
do the same rules apply for asking a 'does' question not a 'do' question like does that sandwhich taste nice' does your car work does he come here often

zetigrekThreads: 59 Posts: 2,709 Joined: May 20, 10 ♂	Edited by: zetigrek Aug 15, 10, 19:39 #19
czy = whether Compare: Otrzymałeś moją wiadomość? Czy otrzymałeś moją wiadomość? Zastanawiałam się, czy otrzymałeś moją wiadomość? chaza: do the same rules apply for asking a 'does' question not a 'do' question yes, of course. Mind that english grammar is completely different than polish. It's your fist time when you learn foreign language, isn't it?

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Edited by: SeanBM Aug 15, 10, 19:42 #20
chaza: do the same rules apply for asking a 'does' question not a 'do' question like Yes, ''do'', ''did'', ''does'', ''doesn't'' in this context are all the same, they are being used as auxiliary verbs and should not be directly translated. Only if you use 'do' as a verb, like ''to do something'' or ''to make something'', it is 'Robić'. That is why I recommend not using 'do' to form questions.

chazaThreads: 49 Posts: 266 Joined: Dec 21, 09 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 19:46 #21
Otrzymałeś moją wiadomość? = you got my message Czy otrzymałeś moją wiadomość? = did you got my message Zastanawiałam się, czy otrzymałeś moją wiadomość? = i think i got my message yes or no

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Edited by: Seanus Aug 15, 10, 19:52 #22
The first 2 are the same. Czy is like whether and expresses a doubt. The last one is, 'I was wondering, did you get my message?' (to a male from a female)

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 19:54 #23
chaza: i think i got my message This is why it is important to learn the verb conjugations. Otrzymałeś the 'eś' at the end of the word tells you who the person is. It isn't 'I' but 'you'. I got = Otrzymałam you got = Otrzymałaś he got = Otrzymał she got = Otrzymała It got = Otrzymało we got = Otrzymałyśmy you (plural) got = Otrzymałyście They got = Otrzymały

chazaThreads: 49 Posts: 266 Joined: Dec 21, 09 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 20:00 #24
i do have the 301 polish verbs, i have had my nose in that book for months. i have to say it taks a while to sink in. but i am getting there. its remembering them all

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 20:05 #25
Polish is more flexible when it comes to tag/tail questions. We match the auxiliaries together (do/don't, does/doesn't, can/can't etc etc) whereas they have words like czy, prawda, tak i nie. It requires less precision in Polish. Polish students often confuse do and does (then again, so do native speakers, lol)

JustysiaSThreads: 15 Posts: 2,869 Joined: Oct 14, 07 MEMBER ♀	Aug 15, 10, 20:06 #26
chaza: Czy otrzymałeś moją wiadomość? = did you get my message chaza: Zastanawiałam się, czy otrzymałeś moją wiadomość? = i think i got my message I was wondering whether you got my message.

♂

Edited by: zetigrek Aug 15, 10, 20:32 #27

SeanBM:

I got = Otrzymałam

you got = Otrzymałaś

there is also gender information in thsese forms:

Otrzymałem would say a man
Otrzyamełeś is about a man

but

Otrzymałam would say a female
Otrzymałaś is about a female

Pete, otrzymałeś wiadomość?
Mary, otrzymałaś wiadomość?

JustysiaS:

I was wondering whether you got my message.

That is exactly what I've meant by saying that czy is equivalent of whether (but some can argue with that)

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Aug 15, 10, 20:34 #28
Exactly! See post 22 of mine above too, chaza.

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Edited by: SeanBM Aug 15, 10, 20:40 #29
zetigrek: there is also gender information in thsese forms: Sex, sex, sex, that's all Polish people ever think about, your language proves it. How can 'a glass' = 'szklanka' be female???? Answers on a postcard. :)

♂

Edited by: zetigrek Aug 15, 10, 20:43 #30

SeanBM:

we got = Otrzymałyśmy

you (plural) got = Otrzymałyście

They got = Otrzymały

I've forgot about pular:

Otrzymałyśmy = we (female)
Otrzymaliśmy = we (male)

Otrzymałyście = you (female)
Otrzymaliście = you (male)

Otrzymały = they (female)
Otrzymali = they (male)

If there is a mixed gender group (men and women together) we use male form.

SeanBM:

How can 'a glass' = 'szklanka' be female????

actually we don't say that szklanka is a female but that its gender is rodzaju żeńskiego.

As a trivia I say that in polish Death is a woman (Śmierć... ta Śmierć)

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