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Questions & Answers about Mój paszport jest w portfelu.
Why is Mój and not Moje used before paszport?
Because paszport is a masculine singular noun and possessive pronouns in Polish must agree in gender and number. For masculine singular you use mój, for feminine singular moja, and for neuter singular moje.
What case is paszport in and why?
Paszport is in the nominative case because it’s the subject of the sentence. In Polish, the subject of a sentence answering “who?” or “what?” stays in the nominative.
Why are there no English-style articles like “a” or “the” in this sentence?
Polish doesn’t have articles. Definiteness or indefiniteness is often shown by context or by adding words such as possessive pronouns (e.g., mój). You simply say paszport, not “a passport” or “the passport.”
Why is it portfelu and not portfel after w?
The preposition w (“in”) requires the locative case for static location. The locative singular of portfel is portfelu, so “in the wallet” becomes w portfelu.
How would I express going into the wallet (movement) instead of being in it?
Movement into something uses do with the genitive case.
For example:
Włożyłem paszport do portfela.
(I put my passport into the wallet.)
Could I omit the verb jest and just say Mój paszport w portfelu?
No. In Polish present-tense copular sentences, the verb być (“to be”) is required. You must say Mój paszport jest w portfelu.
Can I change the word order, for example putting the location first?
Yes—Polish word order is relatively flexible. You can front the location for emphasis:
W portfelu jest mój paszport.
Just be sure to keep w with its locative object (portfelu).
What’s the stress pattern for portfelu?
Polish typically stresses the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable. So por-FE-lu is correct, with the stress on FE.