Polish Subject Pronouns and Być

A1.2 · Building identity

Polish Subject Pronouns and Być

By the end, you can identify yourself and other people with the natural Polish pattern—not a word-for-word copy of English.

Grammar map

Person or topic Subject or topic Identity form Example Pronunciation / note Natural English
I ja jestem Jestem studentem / studentką. I am a student.
you — singular ty jesteś Jesteś nauczycielem / nauczycielką. You are a teacher.
he / she on / ona jest On jest Polakiem. / Ona jest Polką. He/She is Polish.
we my jesteśmy Jesteśmy przyjaciółmi / przyjaciółkami. We are friends.
you — plural wy jesteście Jesteście studentami / studentkami. You are students.
they oni / one są Oni są nauczycielami. / One są nauczycielkami. They are teachers.

Notice the pattern

Subject pronouns are often omitted because the present form of być marks the person. Keep the pronoun when contrast or clarity matters.

Profession and identity nouns after być commonly use the instrumental forms shown here. Learn these first examples as complete chunks.

Build identity sentences

Read each model aloud, then replace the identity word with one that is true for you or someone you know.

I

Jestem studentem / studentką.

I am a student.

you — singular

Jesteś nauczycielem / nauczycielką.

You are a teacher.

he / she

On jest Polakiem. / Ona jest Polką.

He/She is Polish.

we

Jesteśmy przyjaciółmi / przyjaciółkami.

We are friends.

you — plural

Jesteście studentami / studentkami.

You are students.

they

Oni są nauczycielami. / One są nauczycielkami.

They are teachers.

Practice

  1. Copy the first-row identity sentence exactly.
  2. Copy the second-row model, then replace its identity word with one that is true.
  3. Change the first-row idea to the we model in row four.
  4. Translate the third-row example into natural English.
  5. Does Polish use a separate word that changes like English am / is / are? Answer from the pattern note.
  6. Write two true identity sentences: one about you and one about another person or group.
Check your answers
  1. 1 → Jestem studentem / studentką.
  2. 2 → A model is Jesteś nauczycielem / nauczycielką.
  3. 3 → Jesteśmy przyjaciółmi / przyjaciółkami.
  4. 4 → He/She is Polish.
  5. 5 → Polish uses changing present forms of być, although the subject pronoun is often omitted.
  6. 6: Answers vary. Check the subject or topic, identity pattern, and any gender or number choices.

Create a three-person identity set

Write and say three accurate lines: one about yourself, one about another person, and one about a group. Check the person or topic form, gender and number choices, and the identity pattern.

← Back to Polish for English speakers