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We can say: ,,Kaczki to zwierzęta" -zwierzęta is Nominative Or ,,Kaczki są zwierzętami" - zwierzętami is Instrumental Both are correct
Is "zwierzęta" accusative? I don't understand exactly when i have to use the instrumental case(apart from the verb "byc")
"zwierzęta" is nominative here, you have to use instrumental after "być" (ex: Kaczki są zwierzętami) and nominative after "to" (ex: Kaczki to zwierzęta).
However "to jest X" or "to są Y" will produce the nominative too, so not every use of "być" produces instrumental.
What I've learned is the difference between using "to" and "być (jestem, jesteś...)" is that "to" is used more colloquially and informally.
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- „Kaczka jest ptakiem” or
- „Kaczka to ptak”
In 'x is y' nominative after to, instrumental after jest.
Birds are a type of animal, so a duck is an animal too. ;)
Also, if I'm not wrong, if you wanted to say a duck is a bird, you'd say "kaczka jest ptakIEM"
I think Ducks, those are animals should be accepted, as it is a more direct translation, even though it sounds odd.
I don't think it's a more direct translation. It's like: Kaczki... to są zwierzęta... The sentence here is very simple, X are Y.
Other than colloquially are there any more distinctions between using "to" and "być"? "To" is not a verb, so it's difficult for English speakers to understand just how it is used here. The case is not accusative so it is like the whole phrase "kaczka to ptak" is the subject in the sentence. Also if the word "zwierze" does not include birds it has a different meaning than "animal".
