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Questions & Answers about Każda osoba ma przyjaciela.
Why is there no word for “a” before przyjaciela (friend) in this Polish sentence?
Polish does not have indefinite articles like “a” or “an.” The idea of “one/any friend” is simply understood from context. So ma przyjaciela literally means “has friend,” but in English we translate it as “has a friend.”
Why does przyjaciel change to przyjaciela here? Is that the genitive case?
Good observation! Przyjaciel is a masculine animate noun. After the verb ma (“has”), the direct object goes into the accusative case. For masculine animate nouns, the accusative singular looks exactly like the genitive singular, so przyjaciel → przyjaciela. In this sentence it’s accusative, not genitive.
Why is it każda osoba and not każdy osoba?
The word osoba (“person”) is grammatically feminine. Polish adjectives and pronouns must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. The feminine singular nominative form of każdy (“each/every”) is każda, so you get każda osoba.
Could I say Każdy ma przyjaciela instead of Każda osoba ma przyjaciela?
Yes, you can. Każdy on its own (“everyone” or “each one”) is often used colloquially to mean “every person.” However, każda osoba is a bit more formal or precise (“each person”). Both sentences are correct and convey essentially the same meaning.
What about a plural version—can I say Wszyscy mają przyjaciół?
Absolutely. Wszyscy mają przyjaciół means “Everybody has friends.” Here przyjaciół is the accusative (and genitive) plural form of przyjaciel. It implies having more than one friend or friends in general. In contrast, Każda osoba ma przyjaciela emphasizes each individual having at least one friend.
Is there a difference between przyjaciel and znajomy?
Yes. Przyjaciel means a close friend, someone you have a strong personal bond with. Znajomy is an acquaintance—someone you know or have met but are not necessarily close to. You wouldn’t interchange these when talking about a “true” friend.
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