Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Polish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Schowaj portfel na półkę.
What type of verb form is schowaj and what does it express?
Schowaj is the second-person singular imperative of the perfective verb schować. It gives a direct command to perform the action once (i.e. “hide” or “put away” something completely).
Why does portfel look like the nominative if it’s the object of the verb?
In Polish, the direct object usually takes the accusative case. Portfel is masculine inanimate, and for these nouns the accusative singular is identical to the nominative. That’s why you see portfel rather than a different ending.
Why is półkę in the accusative case?
When you indicate motion onto a surface with the preposition na, the noun must be in the accusative case to show direction or destination. Here you are moving the wallet “onto the shelf,” so półka becomes półkę.
How do I choose between na and w when giving placement instructions?
Use na for surfaces or open areas (e.g. na stole, na balkonie). Use w for enclosed spaces or containers (e.g. w szufladzie, w pudełku). Since a shelf is a surface you place things onto, you use na.
Why is there no pronoun ty (you) at the start of the sentence?
Polish normally omits the subject pronoun in imperatives because the verb ending already indicates second person singular. Saying ty schowaj would be redundant and is rarely used.
Could I use odłóż portfel na półkę instead of schowaj?
Yes. Odłóż (perfective of odkładać) also means “put away” or “set aside.” The nuance is that schować emphasizes hiding or storing out of sight, while odłożyć focuses on placing or depositing something.
What’s the difference between perfective schowaj and imperfective chowaj in commands?
Perfective schowaj signals a single, completed action (“hide it now”). Imperfective chowaj suggests an ongoing or repeated activity (“keep hiding”). For simple one-time instructions you almost always use the perfective imperative.
Can I front the location and say Na półkę schowaj portfel?
Yes, Polish word order is relatively flexible. Putting na półkę first emphasizes the destination. The meaning remains the same: you’re still telling someone to hide the wallet on the shelf.