To
-vs- Ten, Ta, To Click
here for Note to Instructors
by E. Wampuszyc
TO
In sentences beginning with To jest …
the to means "this, these" and never changes.
It does not agree in number with the verb być or
in number/gender with the noun that follows jest
or są. Such a sentence points to something or identifies
an object or person. This to is almost always followed by
jest or są, rarely by a noun.
To
jest Gustaw. |
This
is Gustaw. |
To
jest banan. |
This
is a banana. |
To
jest krewetka. |
This
is a shrimp. |
To
jest okno. |
This
is a window. |
| To są rodzice. |
These are parents. |
Agnieszka to (jest) studentka. |
Agnieszka is a student. |
TEN,
TA, TO
The English “this” in such phrases as “this
banana”, “this shrimp”, “this window” is rendered in Polish
by either ten, ta, or to (singular). Its
form expresses number, gender, and case. Ten, ta, to
is almost always followed by a noun or noun
phrase.
| Ten
banan jest żółty. |
This
banana is yellow. |
| Ta
krewetka jest dobra. |
This
shrimp is good. |
| To
okno jest czyste. |
This
window is clean. |
(Remember: The To in "To
okno jest czyste." is different than the to
in the phrase "To jest okno." which never
changes.)
Ten,
ta, to decline similarly to adjectives:
Znam
tego chłopca.
|
I
know this boy. |
Asia
ma tę książkę.
|
Asia
has this book. |
| Oni
mają to krzesło. |
They
have this chair. |
Declension of ten,
ta, to
|
