Ja zawsze noszę paszport w portfelu.

I always carry my passport in my wallet.

Breakdown of Ja zawsze noszę paszport w portfelu.

• ja: I
• w: in
• zawsze: always
• portfel: the wallet
• paszport: the passport
• nosić: to carry

Questions & Answers about Ja zawsze noszę paszport w portfelu.

Why is ja used here even though Polish often drops subject pronouns?

In Polish the verb ending (here -ę in noszę) already tells you it’s first person singular. You include ja only for emphasis (“I” always do it) or to contrast with someone else. If you omit it, Zawsze noszę paszport w portfelu is perfectly natural and common.

Why doesn’t paszport change form when it’s the object of the verb?

Paszport is a masculine inanimate noun. In singular, masculine inanimate nouns have the same form in the nominative (subject) and accusative (direct object) cases. Since noszę takes a direct object, paszport is in the accusative, but it remains paszport.

Why is w portfelu used instead of something like do portfela?

• w + locative expresses location (“in” something).
• do + genitive expresses movement into (“into” something).
  Here you’re saying where you carry the passport (inside the wallet), not that you put it in there right now, so you use w portfelu (locative case: portfel → portfelu).

What’s the role of zawsze, and could its position change?

Zawsze means “always” and is an adverb of frequency. The typical position is before the verb: Zawsze noszę…. You could move it for emphasis or style, but the most natural order is:

1. (Subject pronoun)
2. Adverb of frequency
3. Verb
4. Object
5. Adverbial phrase
   So Ja zawsze noszę paszport w portfelu or simply Zawsze noszę paszport w portfelu.

Why is the present tense (noszę) used for a habit, and why not a perfective verb?

Polish uses the imperfective aspect to describe habitual or ongoing actions. Noszę is imperfective, so it fits “I always carry…” perfectly. A perfective form like zanieść would imply a single, completed action (“to carry in/over there once”), which doesn’t match the idea of a regular habit.

Could I use other verbs instead of nosić to talk about carrying a passport?

Yes, depending on nuance:

• trzymać (“to keep”): Zawsze trzymam paszport w portfelu. (I always keep my passport in my wallet.)
• mieć przy sobie (“to have on me”): Zawsze mam paszport przy sobie. (I always have my passport on me.)
• chować (“to stash”): Zawsze chowam paszport w portfelu. (I always stash my passport in my wallet.)
  Each verb gives a slightly different flavor to the action.