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Questions & Answers about Ten problem jest trudny.
What is the role of ten in Ten problem jest trudny?
Ten is the masculine singular nominative form of the demonstrative pronoun meaning this. It agrees in gender, number and case with the noun problem, which is masculine singular nominative.
Why is problem in the nominative case here?
Because problem is the subject of the sentence. In Polish, subjects (who or what does something) appear in the nominative case.
Why do we use jest in this sentence?
Jest is the third‐person singular present tense form of the verb być (to be). In Polish, you usually need this copula in the present tense to link a subject with an adjective or noun.
Why is the adjective trudny not trudna or trudne?
Adjectives must match the noun’s gender, number and case. Problem is masculine singular nominative, so the correct adjective form is trudny.
Can I say Ten problem jest trudny without jest, like Ten problem trudny?
No. Unlike some languages that allow dropping the verb “to be” in present tense, Polish normally requires jest here. Omitting it would sound incorrect.
Could I also say To jest trudny problem? How is that different?
Yes, To jest trudny problem means This is a difficult problem. Here to is a neuter demonstrative pronoun acting as a placeholder subject, and trudny problem is introduced as a noun phrase. In Ten problem jest trudny, you directly point to that specific problem and describe it.
What’s the difference between ten and tamten?
Both are demonstratives meaning this/that, but ten points to something near the speaker (“this”), while tamten points to something farther away (“that over there”). You would say tamten problem for “that problem (over there).”