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Questions & Answers about Policie je tady.
Why is it je and not jsou?
Because policie is grammatically singular in Czech.
Even though English usually says the police are here, Czech treats policie as a singular noun, so it takes the singular verb je = is.
- Policie je tady. = The police are here.
- Literally, word-for-word, it is closer to Police is here, but that is just how Czech grammar works.
Is policie singular or plural?
It is singular.
In Czech, policie is a singular noun meaning the police as an institution or body. It is not the plural of policista.
Compare:
- policie = the police
- policista = a male police officer
- policistka = a female police officer
- policisté = male/mixed police officers
- policistky = female police officers
So Policie je tady does not mean that one officer is here. It means the police are here.
Does policie mean the institution, or can it also mean the officers themselves?