Breakdown of Nie mogę znaleźć roweru, to jest duży problem.
być
to be
to
this
duży
big
nie
not
znaleźć
to find
móc
to be able to
rower
the bicycle
problem
the problem
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Questions & Answers about Nie mogę znaleźć roweru, to jest duży problem.
Why is roweru in the genitive case instead of the accusative (rower)?
In Polish, when a direct object follows a negated verb (like nie mogę znaleźć), it often takes the genitive case—this is called the genitive of negation. So you say nie mogę znaleźć roweru rather than nie mogę znaleźć rower.
What does nie mogę mean and how is it different from nie potrafię or nie umiem?
nie mogę literally means “I cannot” or “I’m not able to,” focusing on circumstances or permission. nie potrafię and nie umiem mean “I don’t know how to” (lack of skill). So nie mogę znaleźć implies you can’t find it due to the situation (it’s lost), not because you lack the ability.
Why is the perfective verb znaleźć used instead of the imperfective znajdować?
Perfective verbs (like znaleźć) indicate completion or a single, bounded action—here, the attempt to find your bike. In negative contexts, perfective highlights that you haven’t succeeded. Imperfective znajdować is more about habitual or ongoing actions, which doesn’t fit “I can’t find it right now.”
What does to refer to in to jest duży problem?
to is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “this” or “that.” It refers back to the situation in the first clause (not being able to find your bike). So to jest duży problem = “this is a big problem.”
Could I drop jest and say to duży problem?
Yes, you can. to duży problem is a common, slightly more colloquial way to say the same thing. In present-tense “equational” sentences with to, the verb jest is often omitted.
Why is there a comma before to jest duży problem? Could I use a semicolon or a conjunction instead?
The comma separates two independent clauses. You could replace it with a semicolon:
Nie mogę znaleźć roweru; to jest duży problem.
Or add a conjunction like a (but) or i (and):
Nie mogę znaleźć roweru, a to jest duży problem.
What’s the nuance between duży problem and wielki problem?
Both mean “big problem,” but duży is neutral and literally “large,” while wielki is more emphatic or dramatic, like “huge” or “major.”
Can I specify whose bike it is by adding a possessive pronoun?
Absolutely. To say “I can’t find my bike,” you’d say Nie mogę znaleźć mojego roweru. If context already makes it clear it’s your bike, you can omit mojego.