Questions & Answers about Te dzieci są tutaj.
Why is the demonstrative “te” used here instead of something like “ci”?
In Polish, ci is used for masculine personal plural nouns (such as a group of men or boys), while te is the correct form for all other plural nouns. Since dzieci (children) is a non-masculine-personal plural noun, te is the right demonstrative to use.
Why do we use “są” instead of “jest” in this sentence?
In Polish, jest is the third-person singular form of “to be,” and są is the corresponding plural form. Because we are talking about multiple children (a plural subject), we must use są.
Is there any difference between “tutaj” and “tu”?
They both mean here in Polish. Tutaj can sound a bit more formal or emphatic, but in everyday speech, tu is perfectly acceptable and commonly used. Grammatically, both work in the same way and have the same meaning in this context.
What is the singular form of “dzieci,” and why doesn’t it look like a typical plural?
The singular form is dziecko (child). Dzieci is an irregular plural form that doesn’t follow the usual patterns found in many Polish nouns. Irregular nouns are common in many languages, including Polish, and just need to be memorized.
Can the word order change, for instance, “Te dzieci tutaj są”?