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- Topic: Polish >
- "Czego się boisz?"
32 Comments
I think it usually goes after verb, almost never starts the sentence, and when possible does not end sentence.
EDIT, turns out it should never start a sentence, when possible not end the sentence, and it's nicer if it is before verb.
It usually goes before verb but sometimes "się" is after a verb. For example "Jacek się uśmiechnął!". But you also can say "Jacek uśmiechnął się!". It depends on context!!!!
How often do you really say "się" before verb?
You can move się depending in context when you feel really comfortable with Polish.
But for beginners I really think you cannot do wrong if you:
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don't put się at the beginning
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don't split się and verb
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try not to put "się" at the end
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do not put się after preposition
I think the rules are the same like with pronouns, with added don't split them.
Very often, because this is my mother tongue :) I wanted to help you a little bit. If you want to know more, just look here http://www.jezykowedylematy.pl/2012/08/w-ktorym-miejscu-w-zdaniu-ma-stac-zaimek-sie/ Ciao :)
I guess you pay more attention to it. I thought we usually say it after the verb. I edited my last statement.
This discussion, and number of answers I've found at PWN.SJP.pl about position of się, proves that this is not an easy issue for Polish people.
I think you often have to split the verb and się. It feels as if many other things "bind harder" to the verb (e.g. negation or some other pronoun).
"bać się" is more about fear, whereas "obawiać się" means that you suspect/expect that something bad can happen
Am I right that Russian “ся” and “сь” are always suffixed to the verb, and don't drift around the sentence like "się"?
The Polish language often conflicts with the way English terms are expressed, sentences are spoken backwards from the English format. This is confusing at times and results with errors being made until one becomes accustummed to it.
It's too different because it's written from the other side, with a totally different subject and a totally different verb ;) It's Duolingo, there's not much place for licencia poetica here.
No, I didn't specifically say that in this discussion. Previous, ongoing gripe I have, that I mentioned a couple of times in other discussions. I appreciate 99.9% of what DuoLingo presents. But what English phrases are accepted for translation seems to be an ongoing adaptation, and I would like to see the phrases reflect the language accurately. But I do understand that the monitors of these discussions are themselves language learners, and they do a great job, in general.
Va-dim, I am not saying that colloquial is not acceptable and not the way people speak. And the Grammarly Blog has respect, but it is not an "official" committee that decides the "official" form of the language. The Grammarly editor reports back what is used, and tries to help those who don't know what to use. An example of colloquial is the word "ain't." Most know what it means, but almost everyone agrees it is not "proper" grammar. I understand the evolution every language goes through, and the dialects that will come with common use. But I just object when I write an answer that is using correct grammar that is not accepted by DuoLingo while the " incorrect", colloquial form is accepted. It doesn't help those who are trying to learn English along with, in our case, Polish. But your Churchill quote is a good example of your point!
But I just object when I write an answer that is using correct grammar that is not accepted by DuoLingo while the "incorrect", colloquial form is accepted.
I don't think that you specifically said earlier that your version was actually rejected...
There's probably no harm in accepting "your" preferred version.
The correct grammar in English, (not the colloquial form here with the preposition at the end of the sentence) is closer to the Polish. Should be "Of what are you afraid?" Sounds stuffy, but it is grammaticaly correct.
Prepositions at the end are correct grammar, not colloquial. That's an old thing, not to end with a preposition. This has been retired a long time ago.
"That's the sort of pedantry up with which I will not put!" - Winston Churchill.
