Na macie do ćwiczeń jest mało przestrzeni.

There is little space on the exercise mat.

Breakdown of Na macie do ćwiczeń jest mało przestrzeni.

• być: to be
• na: on
• mało: little
• mata do ćwiczeń: the exercise mat

Questions & Answers about Na macie do ćwiczeń jest mało przestrzeni.

Why is macie used instead of mata?

Macie is the locative singular form of mata (mat).

After the preposition na when it means on, Polish usually uses the locative case:

• mata = mat
• na macie = on the mat

So:

• Na macie = on the mat

This is one of the basic case changes that English speakers need to get used to in Polish.

What does do ćwiczeń mean exactly?

Do ćwiczeń means for exercise, for exercising, or for workouts/exercises.

It is made of:

• do = for / for the purpose of / for
• ćwiczeń = exercises

The noun ćwiczenia means exercises. After do, Polish uses the genitive case, so:

• ćwiczenia → ćwiczeń

So mata do ćwiczeń literally means something like:

• a mat for exercises
• in more natural English: an exercise mat

Why is ćwiczeń in that form?