How to check which conjugation a particular verb belongs to in Polish? This is a question that every student asks… Of course, like any language, Polish has rules that its grammar is based on. But is it enough to learn and apply it? Unfortunately, no! There are too many exceptions. What to do, you ask?
We have two pieces of news for you: one good, one bad. Let's start with the good news: there is a method that will help you determine the conjugation type of a Polish verb. But here's the bad news: this method is not 100% reliable and only works with a rule.
First, let's remember the rule.
The first conjugation includes:
*most of the verbs that end in -ować/-iwać/-ywać;
*verbs on —wait;
*verbs on -ąć и -nąć, on -c and on the consonant +ć (for example, -źć, -ść);
*some short, monosyllabic verbs on -ić/-yć/-uć;
*part of verbs that end in -ać and part of it -eć.
The second conjugation includes:
*All disyllabic and more verbs on —ić/-yć;
*part of verbs on -ać;
*part of verbs on -eć.
The third conjugation includes:
*most of the verbs that end in -ać.
The fourth conjugation includes only 5 verbs and their derivatives:
umieć, rozumieć, śmieć, jeść, wiedzieć
Now let's take a closer look at this rule. With which groups of verbs should we not have any difficulties in determining the type of conjugation? Definitely with verbs belonging to the fourth type and verbs ending in -ować/-iwać/-ywać and -awać. We will not be lazy and will learn that verbs ending in -ąć and -nąć, in -c and in the consonant +ć belong to the first conjugation. Let's continue to analyze the rule and pay attention to verbs ending in -ić/-yć. Remember that the second conjugation includes verbs that have two or more syllables, and if the verb has one syllable, then to the first. Thus, we have dealt with half of the verbs. But we still have verbs ending in -ać and -еć. And here there is complete confusion. Such verbs can be in the first, second or third conjugation.
Here the magic method and knowledge of Russian or Ukrainian will come to our aid.
Mechanism of action:
Let's take three verbs that have the same endings -ać in the infinitive, but belong to different types of conjugation:
biegać (to run); jechać (to drive); spać (to sleep);
Now let's conjugate these verbs in Russian (we are only interested in the second person singular form of the verb):
you run, you drive, you sleep.
Pay attention to the suffixes in the words:
*if a Russian word has a combination of letters -ae- in the suffix, then in Polish this verb is of the third conjugation (you are a monster)
*if the letter “i” appears in the suffix of a Russian word, then the Polish verb belongs to the second conjugation. Note, it can be -i- or -y- (you write)
*if in a Russian word in the suffix you see the letter “e”, then in Polish there will also be “e” and this is the first conjugation (you are)
We will apply this magic method to verbs that end in -еć.
Now check yourself and our method for determining verb conjugation: czytać — to read, stać — to stand, pisać — to write.
Correct answer:
you — read -> czytasz (III conjugation)
you — are standing -> stoisz (II conjugation)
you — write -> piszesz (I conjugation)
We hope that you wrote without mistakes. And our method helped you determine the correct conjugation. Good luck!
