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DECLENSIONS (the difference between suffixes)


Ohamer 1 | 3
2 Jan 2010 #1
I'm probably not the first nor the last one to ask for help with this specific topic.
I'm using Livemocha.com's Polish 101 course, and even though it's a nice way of enhancing the vocabulary, there are no real grammar classes and tools.. so I'm having quie a hard time with the declensions.

This is part of my last submission:

Sekretarka nie jest na żółta kanapie. Ona jest na brązowy krześle.

Yes, I know I have got some mistakes.
I got help from a few people, saying that it should be żółtej and brązowym, and someone added that the difference between the suffixes has to do with the difference between the questions jakiej and jakim.

So.. what exactly IS the difference between these suffixes? Don't both sentences answer the same question (gdzie jest?)

Thank you!!
BrutalButcher - | 389
2 Jan 2010 #2
I think jakiej is used for female words, hence :zolta=zoltej
And Jakim is for male words, thus, brazowy=brazowym. Notice how the ending of the question words hints at the declination.

Just my 2 cents.
Lenka 5 | 3,417
2 Jan 2010 #3
It's because of cases and gender.Try to find some course that will teach you also grammar.
Torq
2 Jan 2010 #4
So.. what exactly IS the difference between these suffixes? Don't both sentences answer the same question (gdzie jest?)

The adjective has to agree in gender with the noun it describes, hence
we have "żółtej", because "kanapa" is feminine, and "brązowym" because
"krzesło" is neuter.

If the couch was brown and the chair was yellow, we would have "brązowej"
and "żółtym".

Simple as that ;)

Here's a useful site for declensions (it gives all possible declensions, without
describing their grammar usage though).

odmiana.iorg.pl
Lenka 5 | 3,417
2 Jan 2010 #6
Also cases:
Mianownik:żółta kanapa
Dopełniacz:żółtej kanapy
Celownik:żółtej kanapie
Biernik:żółtą kanapę
Narzędnik:żółtą kanapą
Miejscownik:żółtej kanapie
OP Ohamer 1 | 3
2 Jan 2010 #7
Ohamer:So.. what exactly IS the difference between these suffixes? Don't both sentences answer the same question (gdzie jest?)

Wow.. that's it?
I should've guessed that by now.. thanks.
so it's żółtej for female and żółtym for neuter and male?
Or is there a male from as well?
hmm.. and I guess plurals have also got their own form, right?
Torq
2 Jan 2010 #8
Also cases

That's right.

It has to be a nightmare for an English speaker to learn all the declensions,
conjugations, exceptions and oddities in a language that is, in addition to
a complicated grammar, very different phonetically to English.

They should give a special medal for bravery for every foreigner who attempts
to learn Polish ;)

so it's żółtej for female and żółtym for neuter and male?

Yip.

hmm.. and I guess plurals have also got their own form, right?

Correct.
SzwedwPolsce 11 | 1,594
3 Jan 2010 #9
so it's żółtej for female and żółtym for neuter and male?

It depend on which grammatical case you have, there are 7 of them. You need a good book that explains the grammar well.
emmajo 3 | 19
4 Jan 2010 #10
It has to be a nightmare for an English speaker to learn all the declensions.

It is...but having some very good books, and of course this forum helps!!

They should give a special medal for bravery for every foreigner who attempts
to learn Polish ;)

:):):):)
Lyzko
4 Jan 2010 #11
..to which I might (re-)add that German is no less difficult, but for different reasons.
See "Off Topic" message posts for my complete reply. LOL

:-)


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