Learn Hardcore Polish: Schody są teraz puste, więc niski sąsiad wybiera je zamiast windy. - The stairs are now empty, so the short neighbor chooses them instead of the elevator.

Schody is a so-called pluralia tantum noun: it exists only in the plural. There is no singular schód meaning “stair”; instead schód (archaic or technical) can mean “a single step,” but everyday Polish uses stopień for one step.

Why does the adjective appear as puste instead of pusty?

In Polish, adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun. For plural non-personal nouns (objects, places, things), the nominative adjective ending is -e. Since schody are inanimate and plural, the correct form is puste, not pusty (which would be singular masculine).

What is the function of teraz in the sentence, and could its position change?

Teraz means “now.” Polish word order is relatively flexible, so you could also say Schody są puste teraz, Teraz schody są puste, or Schody teraz są puste without changing the basic meaning. Moving teraz shifts emphasis slightly but is grammatically fine.

What does więc mean, and can I use a different word?

Więc is a conjunction meaning “so” or “therefore.” You can also use więc synonymously with dlatego (tego) (“therefore”), e.g.:
– Schody są teraz puste, dlatego niski sąsiad wybiera je zamiast windy.
Both express a cause-and-effect link.

Why is niski sąsiad in the nominative case?

Niski sąsiad is the subject of the main clause niski sąsiad wybiera je, so it stands in the nominative (base) case. If he were the object or after a preposition requiring another case, the ending would change accordingly.

Why does the sentence use je instead of ich for “them”?

Je is the 3rd person plural accusative pronoun for inanimate objects (“them”). Ich is the genitive or accusative pronoun for animate or personal objects (“their” or “them” in contexts referring to people). Since schody are inanimate, you use je.

Why is it zamiast windy and not zamiast winda?

The preposition zamiast (“instead of”) always governs the genitive case. The genitive singular of winda is windy, so you say zamiast windy.

Can I drop je and still be correct?

Yes. Polish often omits pronouns when the object is clear. You could say niski sąsiad wybiera schody zamiast windy and it remains perfectly grammatical. The pronoun je simply avoids repeating schody.

Why are there no articles like “the” or “a” in the Polish sentence?

Polish does not use indefinite or definite articles. Context alone shows whether you mean “the stairs” (schody) or “stairs in general.” Here, schody są teraz puste can mean “the stairs are empty now.”