Portfel nadal jest zgubiony, ale mam nadzieję, że przyjaciel pomoże mi go znaleźć.

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Breakdown of Portfel nadal jest zgubiony, ale mam nadzieję, że przyjaciel pomoże mi go znaleźć.

• być: to be
• ale: but
• że: that
• przyjaciel: the friend
• pomóc: to help
• mi: me
• znaleźć: to find
• zgubiony: lost
• portfel: the wallet
• nadal: still
• mieć nadzieję: to hope

Questions & Answers about Portfel nadal jest zgubiony, ale mam nadzieję, że przyjaciel pomoże mi go znaleźć.

What does the word “portfel” mean, and why is there no article before it?

“Portfel” translates to “wallet.” Polish does not use articles like “a” or “the,” so regardless of context, you simply say “portfel.”

Why is the adverb “nadal” placed immediately after “portfel”? Would it be correct to say “jest nadal zgubiony” instead?

“Nadal” means “still,” and placing it right after the subject (“portfel”) emphasizes that the wallet’s lost state continues. Although both “Portfel nadal jest zgubiony” and “Portfel jest nadal zgubiony” are acceptable, the chosen order is common and natural in Polish.

How does the expression “mam nadzieję, że…” function in this sentence?

“Mam nadzieję” means “I hope” and is followed by the conjunction “że” (which translates to “that”), introducing a subordinate clause. This structure clearly conveys what the speaker is hoping will happen.

In the subordinate clause, what is the role of the pronoun “go”?

“Go” is a masculine singular accusative pronoun that replaces “portfel” in the subordinate clause. It serves as the direct object of the verb “znaleźć” (“to find”), avoiding repetition of the noun.

Why does the indirect object pronoun “mi” appear before the direct object pronoun “go” in “przyjaciel pomoże mi go znaleźć”?

In Polish, when both an indirect object and a direct object pronoun appear in a sentence, the standard order is for the indirect object (“mi,” meaning “to me”) to come before the direct object (“go”). This clitic order is a typical feature of Polish grammar.

How is the future meaning expressed by the verb “pomoże” even though its form might resemble the present tense?

“Pomoże” is the third-person singular form of the perfective verb “pomóc” (to help). In Polish, perfective verbs like “pomóc” inherently suggest a completed or future action. Thus, “pomoże” effectively means “will help” in this context.

Why is a subordinate clause introduced with “że” used in this sentence instead of a simpler construction?

Using “że” to introduce the subordinate clause after “mam nadzieję” clearly signals what the speaker is hoping for. This mirrors the English “I hope that…” construction and helps organize the sentence into a main clause and a dependent clause, making the intended meaning precise.

Is there any significance to the word order in “Portfel nadal jest zgubiony” when compared to the English “The wallet is still lost”?

Yes, although both sentences convey the same meaning, Polish word order is more flexible. Here, the adverb “nadal” is placed immediately after the subject to emphasize the ongoing state. This differs from the fixed word order in English, but it is a natural and grammatically correct construction in Polish.