Learn Hardcore Polish: Ty masz dom.

Polish is a pro-drop language, so you can usually omit the pronoun and just say Masz dom. Including ty can add emphasis or clarity, similar to saying "You have a house" in English instead of simply "Have a house." It highlights or stresses the person performing the action.

Is dom in the nominative or accusative case here?

It is actually in the accusative case, because it’s the direct object of masz (to have). For masculine inanimate nouns like dom, the nominative and the accusative look the same, so dom in the accusative form is spelled and pronounced just like the nominative form.

Do we ever need articles (like “a” or “the”) before dom in Polish?

Polish does not use articles the way English does. There’s no equivalent of “a” or “the,” so you simply say dom without any additional word in front.

What is the difference between ty and wy?

Ty is used when speaking to one person (singular you), while wy is the plural form when you’re addressing more than one person. For example, ty masz dom (you have a house) vs. wy macie dom (you all have a house).

Which verb is used for “to have” in Polish, and how is it conjugated for ty?

The verb is mieć. In the present tense, for the singular second person ty, it conjugates to masz. Some other conjugations are ja mam, on/ona/ono ma, my mamy, wy macie, and oni/one mają.

Can I omit ty and just say Masz dom?

Absolutely. Native speakers often drop personal pronouns because the verb ending makes it clear who is doing the action. Ty masz dom and Masz dom convey the same basic meaning, but Ty masz dom places a slight emphasis on you.