Nie, mój kot jest mały.

to be

Breakdown of Nie, mój kot jest mały.

• kot: the cat
• nie: no
• mój: my
• mały: small

Questions & Answers about Nie, mój kot jest mały.

Why is there a comma after Nie in this sentence?

In Polish, commas often set off interjections or short words at the beginning of a sentence, such as Nie (No). Here it adds a small pause, emphasizing the negative response before proceeding with the rest of the statement.

Why do we use mój (my) instead of another form like moja or moje?

The form of mój depends on the gender of the noun it modifies. Since kot (cat) is masculine in Polish, we use the masculine singular form mój. If the noun were feminine (e.g., mama), you would say moja; for neuter (e.g., dziecko), you would say moje.

What is the role of jest in this sentence?

Jest is the third-person singular form of the verb być (to be). It performs the same function as is in English, linking the subject mój kot to its description mały.

Why is mały used instead of mała or małe?

The adjective mały matches the gender (masculine) and number (singular) of the noun kot. For a feminine noun, you would use mała, and for a neuter noun, małe.