Nie lubię późnej kolacji, wolę szybki obiad w mieście.

I do not like a late dinner; I prefer a quick lunch in the city.

Breakdown of Nie lubię późnej kolacji, wolę szybki obiad w mieście.

• ja: I
• lubić: to like
• w: in
• kolacja: the dinner
• wolać: to prefer
• obiad: the lunch
• miasto: the city
• późny: late
• szybki: quick

Questions & Answers about Nie lubię późnej kolacji, wolę szybki obiad w mieście.

Why is kolacja in the form kolacji instead of kolacja?

Because the verb nie lubić (“not to like”) normally governs the genitive case for its object. After a negative verb you put the thing you dislike into genitive. Here kolacja (nominative) becomes kolacji (feminine singular genitive).

Why does the adjective późna change to późnej?

Adjectives agree in gender, number and case with the noun they modify. Since kolacji is feminine singular genitive, późna must also become feminine singular genitive: późnej.

What case is szybki obiad, and why doesn’t szybki change its ending?

Szybki obiad is the direct object of wolę (“I prefer”), so formally it’s in the accusative case. In Polish, masculine inanimate nouns have the same form in nominative and accusative. That’s why obiad stays obiad, and the adjective stays szybki (nominative = accusative for masculine inanimate).

What is the function and case of w mieście?

The preposition w (“in”) requires the locative case when talking about location. The word miasto (“city”) in locative is mieście, so w mieście means “in the city.”

Why is the subject ja (“I”) omitted in both clauses?

Polish is a pro-drop language: person and number are marked on the verb ending. Since lubię and wolę both clearly show “I” (first person singular), you don’t need to say ja.

What’s the difference between wolę and verbs like chcę or lubię?

• lubię = “I like” (general liking)
• chcę = “I want” (desire or intention)
• wolę = “I prefer” (expresses choice or preference between options)

Here wolę szybki obiad means “I’d rather have a quick lunch” rather than “I want a quick lunch.”

When do Polish speakers use kolacja vs. obiad?

• Obiad is the main midday meal (comparable to “lunch”).
• Kolacja is the evening meal (“dinner” or “supper”).

Saying późna kolacja emphasizes a late-evening supper, and the speaker prefers an earlier midday meal (obiad).

Why is there a comma between the two clauses, without a conjunction like “but”?

Polish often uses a comma to link two contrasting clauses directly. You could add ale (“but”), but it’s not required. The comma alone signals the contrast:
Nie lubię późnej kolacji, wolę szybki obiad…
(“I don’t like a late supper, (instead) I prefer a quick lunch…”)