"It is too late for breakfast."

Translation: Jest za późno na śniadanie.

[kenney1321]

How come it is wrong to write "To jest" instead of just "Jest"?

[Jellei]

Because in this specific example, there isn't really any 'to', to refer to. In English this "It" doesn't refer to anything, it's just needed. As there's nothing that 'to' could denote, it can't be used in this particular sentence.

[kenney1321]

Allright, that is a tricky concept! I would say that it refered to "this moment". So 'to' would only be used for physical objects or animals?

[Jellei]

Well, not necessarily, I can without a problem imagine using it for feelings and emotions, as it implies "This feeling that you feel/That emotion that we discuss"... The examples when it will be only "jest" and not "to jest" are probably quite rare.

I think that if the English sentence starts with "This is", there's probably no way that it will be one of those exceptions, but this one starts with a completely impersonal "It is". Such exceptions will probably denote something about time, weather, sometimes the way you feel. At least that's what comes to my mind right now.

• Jest za wcześnie by pić. = It is too early to drink.

• Na plaży jest gorąco. = It is hot at the beach. (It could be "Jest gorąco na plaży" as well - although a bit less natural, and I don't think that "at the beach" can be treated as a subject, so there's none)

• Jest mi niedobrze. = I feel 'not-good' = I feel sick = I feel like I'm gonna vomit.

[kenney1321]

Thanks a lot, I think that makes sense for me!

[Arnoldpitt]

Really jest here is a subjectless verb. It is actually a peculiarity of English that we put in a the subject 'it' similarly with IT is raining. What does it stand for?

[BernardoFon]

What is the main difference between 'na śniadanie' and 'dla śniadanie'? Would 'dla' be wrong here?

[Jellei]

It would be wrong. Prepositions rarely translate directly, and "dla" doesn't work here. If something is 'for' a meal, then it's "na" + Accusative.

[gsdobek]

Is "Na śniadanie jest za późno." wrong?

[Jellei]

Well, it means "For breakfast it is too late (but I guess it's the right time for brunch!)"... but okay, added.

[Lissy122428]

Can you not put czy at the beginning?

[Yola448704]

It is a positive statement, not a question:

(It is) too late for breakfast - (Jest) za późno na śniadanie
(Is it) too late for breakfast? - (Czy jest) za późno na śniadanie?

[-APO5]

Dlaczego "na śniadani(e)" ale "na kolacj(ę)" ?

[Jellei]

Firstly, "na" in this meaning (it's too late for something, this food is for a specific meal, etc.) takes Accusative.

"śniadanie" is a neuter noun, which means its Accusative form is identical to Nominative, there's no change in ending.

"kolacja" is a feminine noun, which means its Accusative form is different, the -a ending changes to -ę.