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Questions & Answers about Panel jest zepsuty.
What part of speech is zepsuty in this sentence – an adjective or a past participle?
zepsuty is the past participle of zepsuć (to break) used adjectivally to describe the state of Panel. In Polish, past participles often function like adjectives; here it appears in the nominative singular masculine to agree with Panel.
Why is Panel in the nominative case here?
Panel is the grammatical subject of the sentence. In a copular construction with być (to be), the subject stays in the nominative case and any predicative adjective also appears in nominative.
Why isn’t zepsuty in the instrumental case, like some noun predicates after jest?
Predicative adjectives and participles always take the nominative case in Polish. Only noun predicates can use the instrumental (for example On jest lekarzem). Hence zepsuty remains nominative rather than becoming zepsutym.
Could you omit jest and simply say Panel zepsuty?
In very informal speech or as a brief note (like a headline) you might see Panel zepsuty, but in standard Polish you include the copula: Panel jest zepsuty. Omitting jest makes the phrase sound conversational or fragmentary.
Why not use the reflexive form Panel się zepsuł instead of Panel jest zepsuty?
Both forms are correct but focus on different aspects. Panel jest zepsuty describes the current condition of the panel. Panel się zepsuł uses the reflexive verb zepsuć się to emphasize the action of breaking. Choose jest zepsuty for the state, się zepsuł for the event.
What’s the difference between zepsuty and uszkodzony?
Both can mean broken or damaged, but zepsuty usually implies a complete malfunction (it doesn’t work at all), while uszkodzony refers to general damage or impairment (it may still function). For instance, a device that won’t switch on is zepsuty, whereas one with a dented casing might be uszkodzony but still operable.
How would you say “the panels are broken” (plural) in Polish?
You would say Panele są zepsute. Panel becomes panele (nominative plural), jest changes to są, and zepsuty becomes zepsute (nominative plural masculine inanimate).
Is panel masculine or neuter, and how can you tell?
Panel is a masculine inanimate noun. Most Polish nouns ending in a consonant are masculine. Also, the adjective zepsuty ends in -y, the form for masculine singular nominative adjectives.
How is zepsuty pronounced in the International Phonetic Alphabet?
It is pronounced [zɛpˈsutɨ], with stress on the penultimate syllable su. The final y represents the close central unrounded vowel [ɨ].
What is the infinitive of the verb from which zepsuty is derived?
It comes from the perfective verb zepsuć (to break something). The imperfective counterpart is psuć (to spoil or break gradually).
How do you form a yes/no question from Panel jest zepsuty?
Place the particle czy at the beginning: Czy panel jest zepsuty? In speech you can also rely on rising intonation, but czy is standard in writing for yes/no questions.
How can you express that the panel was broken (passive voice) rather than just its state?
Use zostać plus the passive participle: Panel został zepsuty means “the panel was broken” (by someone or something). This construction highlights the action of breaking rather than merely the resulting condition.