Learn Hardcore Polish: Łatwiej czytać przy lampie. - It is easier to read by the lamp.

In Polish, the present‐tense form of być (“to be”) is often dropped in impersonal or comparative constructions. The complete idea is Łatwiej jest czytać przy lampie, but speakers usually omit jest, giving Łatwiej czytać przy lampie.

Why is łatwiej used instead of łatwo?

Łatwiej is the comparative form of łatwo (“easily”). When you want to express “it’s easier to do something,” you use the comparative plus infinitive. Compare:
• Łatwiej czytać = “easier to read”
• Łatwo się czyta = “it’s easy to read”
• łatwy do czytania = “easy to read” (adjective + noun)

Is there a subject in this sentence? If not, how do I understand who finds it easier?

This is an impersonal structure: Polish often omits a specific subject for general statements. English uses the dummy “it,” but Polish simply starts with the comparative. Implicitly, one (or people in general) find it easier to read by lamp‐light.

Why is lampie used instead of lampa? What case is that?

Lampie is the locative singular of lampa (a feminine noun). The preposition przy (“by/at/next to”) requires the locative case, so lampa → lampie.