27 Comments
Out of curiosity, what is the literal translation of 'na pewno', and what is its etymology?
pewno is a form of "pewny" and that is from
zach. psł. *pъvьnъ 'taki, który spełni oczekiwania, godny zaufania' (the one that will fulfil expectations, trustworthy)
"pewno" does not exist in Polish anymore outside of this expression, but it used to be neuter form of that adjective.
I would say literal translation is "for certain"
http://sjp.pwn.pl/poradnia/haslo/na-b-pewno-b;9268.html
http://www.wsjp.pl/index.php?id_hasla=5771&id_znaczenia=4628653&l=20&ind=0
literal: "for certain", "for sure"; ironic: "leave it out"
"Na pewno" is an idiomatic expression, coming from Old Polish neuter gender adjective "pewno" [sure, certain; secure; reliable; unwavering], which was created from Old Slavic noun "pъva" [certainty, reliability; confidence] See: "na pewno"
Similar expressions: "na nowo" - [anew, afresh, from the beginning]; "na okrągło" - [around the clock; all the time], "na prawo" - [to the right].
I would usually say "most certainly" for added impact. How would you say this in Polish? Eg this book is most certainly boring
In everyday English we often put the adverb first i.e. Certainly this book is boring. Fortunately he was injured in the accident. etc.
I would disagree based on where the emphasis falls. "This book is certainly boring" sounds like you are reading the book and confirming that it is indeed boring.
"Certainly this book is boring" sounds more like you would be asking someone who is reading it why they are doing so, since the book is most certainly a boring one. It puts the stress of "certainly" on the specific book compared to other books, rather than on the book being boring as compared to not boring (as is in the first case.) I can't really imagine this sounding natural in any way outside of a question form.
However, I am not sure how or even if the polish translation would differ between these two pretry similar meanings.
What makes you think that it should be correct?
"Nudna" is an adjective in female form, because "książka" is a female gender noun.
An adjective always follows the gender and number of the noun it describes. The Polish verb "być" (to be) requires nouns to be in Instrumental Case, and if there is an adjective associated with the noun, it has to follow:
- This book is certainly a boring book = Ta książka na pewno jest nudną (adj. Instr. fem. sing.) książką (noun Instr. fem. sing.)
- This book is certainly a masterpiece = Ta książka na pewno jest arcydziełem (noun Instr. neutr. sing.)
But this rule does not apply to adjectives separated from the noun! If the noun is left behind or omitted at all - the isolated adjective is in Nominative case:
- This book is certainly boring= Ta książka na pewno jest nudna (adj. Nom. neutr. sing.)
"Nudnej" is "nudna" in Genitive case. Genitive Case may occur in negation sentences regarding the verb.
- I do not have a boring book - Nie mam nudnej (adj. Gen. fem. sing.) książki (non Gen. fem. sing.)
But if the negation does not refer to a verb, but to adjective, it is in Nominative Case;
- This book is not boring - Ta książka nie jest nudna (adj. Nom. neutr. sing.)
And if the negation is about the noun, it is similar as in indicative:
- This boring stuff is not a book - To nudne coś nie jest książką (noun Instr. fem. sing.)
101
This book sure and certainly are similar enough to replace each others, including surely. As a child, na pewno was commonly used seventy years ago by my parents from Poland.
- 101
I can see that Polish the same as English has evolved over a couple of generations, the English was once a beautiful language, with the advent of computer and cellphone it has eroded. We don't teach cursive in our schools anymore, next all communication will be phonetic because it's too complicated for the current generation. Pzeprasham pana, nashe ludzie sa legate.
- 101
If my memory serves me correctly I believe back decades ago, pewno was used to indicate full. Ta butelka jest pewno.
No, these are different words:
- full = pełna/pełen/pełne.
- certainly = na pewno
Ha ha ha. Tired, bored, not very good at Polish, and I translated the duck until I realized the duck certainly is boring is not a sentence duolingo would write.
Is the book abouit building tunnels through a rock? Probably does not aplly to slavic languages:)
- 101
You're absolutely right on, I confused the two words, not speaking it for sixty years will do that to you.Thanks for clarifying this for me.
That's "naprawdę".
Actually this sentence sounds as if you didn't even start reading, but anyway are sure that the book must be boring.
I am sorry but we come back to the point that you cannot use "surely" like this in English. Why not use "definitely" ?
