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- Topic: Polish >
- "Ryba to zwierzę."
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If you choose the option "jest", you have to decline the word "zwierzę", so it would be: Ryba jest zwierzęciem (instrumental case). If you choose the option "to", you have to use nominative. Consequently, the sentence "Ryba jest zwierzę" is incorrect. You can choose both options.
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How do people use these options in common speaking? i.e. which way is more formal? what should I use when I approach random Polish people?
Jest is definitely more formal 'cause it sounds more natural. "Ryba to zwierzę" means something like "Ryba = zwierzę" so it's more concrete but simpler.
The word 'to' generally means 'this' and is used for neuter nouns (to dziecko - this child, to zwierzę - this animal, to badanie - this research).
'To' is also used in two grammatical, easy construction, which you experience in the first lessons.
'To jest X...'; X being in nominative case, translated as "It is X" ie. To jest chłopiec - It's a boy; To jest dziewczynka - It's a girl.
'X to Y'; both X and Y being in nominative case, translated as "X is Y".
Hope it helps exploring the mysteries of Polish :D
The sentence still needs an article before "fish". Unless you wanted to treat 'fish' as meat... but that seems rather strange here.
Sometimes i see a noun followed by 'to jest', like 'ryba to jest zwierzę'. Is this acceptable?
If i use "to" in a phrase so it couldn't have a gender at the noun ?? Is it right ?
Sorry, I don't understand what you mean... "to" doesn't have anything to do with gender.
What is the difference between zwierzę and zwierzęciem? And what point they can be used in a sentence?
"zwierzę" is Nominative, the basic form of the noun. It's mostly used for the subject of the sentence, but also in a sentence like here, "Ryba to zwierzę".
"zwierzęciem" is Instrumental. It's mostly used after the preposition "z" = "with", and it is also a valid alternative translation here: "Ryba jest zwierzęciem".
Drat! Pols have no articles; does it really matter if you don't put "an". Its a correct translation
It does, because you have to create a correct English sentence.
It doesn't matter if you just get the word "ryba" to translate, then you can just write "fish" without an article.
Which part? If you get a Polish sentence to translate, you have to translate it as a correct English sentence. "Fish is animal", "The fish is animal" and similar are not correct sentences.
If you translate just one word/phrase, then you can treat it as in the dictionary, so you don't have to write "an animal" nor "the animal", "animal" should be ok.
