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- Topic: Polish >
- "Rano jem kanapki lub jajka."
49 Comments
2013
Perhaps I need to ask what other situation there is. Are you saying that in any case where "or" indicates an alternative between two nouns, it is "lub"? In that case, is czy only used when it is a choice of verbs?
@israellai: In questions yes, but more like "I have only this and this, do you want some?". In sentences it has the same meaning, as "czy" in questions: you can choose only one option.
@ann666: "Czy zjesz kanapki lub jajka?" - in my opinion 100% correct. "Czy zjesz kanapki, czy jajka?" is incorrect.
@JamesT.Wilson: In questions. "Czy" is like in Matrix: "take red pill, or blue pill" (only one). "Lub" gives you open choice "feel free and do whatever you want".
2013
So, then, 4d1n, is czy used for closed lists and lub used for open lists? ann666, we have been using czy at the beginning of yes/no questions throughout this program. Are you saying that is invalid? Is it some sort of regional variant?
"Czy" is used not only in questions. "Tak czy owak, (...)", "tak czy siak", "tak czy inaczej" are common expressions and mean "either way, (...)". "The particle "czy" between two nouns or longer statements should be translated not as "or", but as "or rather", which is a mutually exclusive alternative. This alternative can also have more parts, so in closed lists, too.
This sentence, to me, says that I either eat sandwiches or eggs for breakfast. Simple as that. I'm confused about that 'eat whatever you want' thing you mentioned, I don't know what you meant.
"czy" is almost only used in questions (gives a choice between A or B)
As for "lub" vs "albo". In theory, "lub" = "OR" (so it allows for the choice of both variants, therefore I can have both eggs and a sandwich on breakfast tomorrow), while "albo" = "XOR" (exclusive or - either eggs, or sandwiches, but not both). But in fact, most Polish people either don't know that or don't care. So you can treat them as perfectly synonymous.
It matters a lot, actually - because it emphasizes different things. Sometimes differently emphasized sentences in Polish only have one correct translation into English, but sometimes it's easy to show it in English as well.
"Jem kanapki rano" answers "When do I eat sandwiches".
"Rano jem kanapki" answers "What do I eat in the morning" or "What do I do in the morning".
The most common ones are:
- Nad ranem - In the morning.
Mój kot mnie obudził o szóstej nad ranem.
My cat woke me up at six in the morning.
- Z rana - in the morning.
Z rana było jeszcze sucho, a po południu zaczęło padać.
It was dry (weather) in the morning, but in the afternoon it began to rain.
- Do rana - until dawn/until the next morning
Imprezowaliśmy aż do rana.
We were partying until the next morning.
- Od rana - since (this) morning
Glowa mnie boli od rana.
I've been having a headache since this morning.