Jeśli winda jest zepsuta, trzeba użyć schodów.

If the elevator is broken, one has to use the stairs.

Breakdown of Jeśli winda jest zepsuta, trzeba użyć schodów.

• być: to be
• jeśli: if
• winda: the elevator
• zepsuty: broken

Questions & Answers about Jeśli winda jest zepsuta, trzeba użyć schodów.

What does jeśli mean and how is it different from jeżeli?

jeśli means if in Polish. It introduces a conditional clause. You can also use jeżeli; both mean the same, but: • jeśli is more common in everyday speech.
• jeżeli can sound slightly more formal or bookish.

What is the gender and case of winda, and why is it in this form?

winda is a feminine noun, singular, in the nominative case. In the clause Jeśli winda jest zepsuta it functions as the subject of the verb jest.

What is zepsuta and why does it end with -a?

zepsuta is the feminine singular past passive participle of the verb zepsuć (to break). As a participial adjective, it agrees in gender (feminine), number (singular) and case (nominative) with its noun (winda).

Why is jest used in winda jest zepsuta? Could we omit it?

jest is the 3rd-person singular form of być, meaning to be, and links the subject (winda) with the adjective (zepsuta). Without jest, the sentence would be ungrammatical in standard Polish. You need a copula to say the elevator is broken.

What does trzeba mean, and why is there no explicit subject?