Ja odwiedzam rodzinę co roku.

I visit family every year.

Breakdown of Ja odwiedzam rodzinę co roku.

• ja: I
• rodzina: the family
• co roku: every year
• odwiedzać: to visit

Questions & Answers about Ja odwiedzam rodzinę co roku.

Why is the subject pronoun ja explicitly included even though the verb ending already indicates the subject?

In Polish, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending (in this case, -m in odwiedzam) clearly shows that the subject is first person singular. However, including ja can add emphasis or clarity—especially useful for language learners or when you want to stress who is performing the action.

What is the significance of the verb form odwiedzam in the sentence?

Odwiedzam is the present tense, first person singular form of the verb odwiedzać (to visit). It is used here to indicate a habitual action, meaning that the speaker regularly visits their family.

Why is the noun written as rodzinę instead of rodzina?

Rodzina is a feminine noun. In this sentence, it functions as the direct object of the verb odwiedzam. In Polish, direct objects take the accusative case, and for many feminine nouns, including rodzina, the accusative singular form ends in -ę, becoming rodzinę.

What does the phrase co roku mean, and how is it structured in Polish?

Co roku means every year. It is composed of co, which functions like “each” or “every,” and roku, which is the genitive singular form of rok (year). Together, they form an adverbial phrase that describes the frequency of the action.

Can the word order in this sentence be changed, and would that alter the meaning?

Yes, Polish allows for a flexible word order. For example, saying Co roku odwiedzam rodzinę still means I visit my family every year. Changing the order can slightly shift the emphasis—for instance, beginning with co roku highlights the recurring nature of the event—but it does not fundamentally change the meaning.

Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun ja in everyday conversation?

No, it is not strictly necessary. Since the verb odwiedzam already clearly indicates that the speaker is talking about themselves (first person singular), omitting ja is common in natural conversation. Inclusion of the pronoun is mainly for emphasis or clarity, especially in instructional contexts.

Why is the imperfective aspect used for odwiedzam instead of a perfective form?

The imperfective aspect (from the verb odwiedzać) is used to describe habitual or repeated actions. In this sentence, the speaker visits their family every year, which is an ongoing, repeated activity. If the speaker were referring to a single, completed visit, the perfective form (odwiedzić) would be appropriate instead.