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Questions & Answers about Krzesło jest ciężkie.
Why isn’t there a word for the or a before krzesło?
Polish has no articles. You simply say the noun without the or a, and rely on context to know whether you mean something specific or general.
What gender is krzesło, and how can I tell?
Krzesło is neuter. Most nouns ending in -o are neuter. This affects adjective endings and verb agreements.
Why is the adjective ciężkie and not ciężki or ciężka?
Adjectives must agree with the noun’s gender, number, and case. Since krzesło is neuter singular in the nominative case, the correct adjective ending is -ie, giving ciężkie.
What case is krzesło in, and why is it that case?
It’s in the nominative case because it’s the subject of the sentence. Neuter nouns ending in -o have the same form in the nominative singular: krzesło.
What does jest mean, and why is it used here?
Jest is the 3rd-person singular present form of być (“to be”). It corresponds to English is, linking the subject (krzesło) with its description (ciężkie).
Can I switch the word order to Ciężkie jest krzesło?
Yes. Polish allows flexible word order. Starting with Ciężkie puts extra emphasis on heavy, though the basic meaning stays the same.
How do you pronounce ciężkie, especially the ę and ż?
• ci = soft “chee” sound (like /t͡ɕ/).
• ę at the end = nasal “e” (like an “en” without fully pronouncing the n).
• ż = “zh” as in “measure.”
Approximation: CHEH̃-sh-ky-eh, with a slight nasal on the first e.
How would you say “The chairs are heavy”?
Use the nominative plural subject, the plural of być, and the matching adjective form:
Krzesła są ciężkie.
Here krzesła is “chairs,” są is “are,” and ciężkie stays -ie in the plural for inanimate subjects.