Learn Hardcore Polish: W wysokiej wieży jest wąska klatka schodowa, więc leniwy turysta wybiera windę. - In the tall tower there is a narrow staircase, so the lazy tourist chooses the elevator.

It means “in the tall tower.” Polish expresses location with w + the locative case. The feminine noun wieża becomes wieży (locative singular) and the adjective wysoki matches it as wysokiej.

Why are wysokiej and wieży different from the base forms wysoka and wieża?

They’re in the locative case (feminine singular). Adjectives take -ej in that case (wysoki → wysokiej), and feminine nouns use -y (wieża → wieży).

What case is wąska klatka schodowa, and why is it used here?

It’s the nominative case (feminine singular). In an existential sentence with jest (“there is…”), the thing that exists is in the nominative: wąska (narrow) and schodowa agree with klatka.

How does the compound klatka schodowa work?

Literally “cage of stairs,” but it means “stairwell.” Klatka is the main noun (“cage/shaft”), and schodowa is an adjective derived from schody (“stairs”).

Why is there a comma before więc, and what’s the difference between więc and dlatego?

When więc (“so/therefore”) connects two independent clauses, you separate them with a comma: “…jest…, więc…”. Dlatego also means “therefore,” but often appears as dlatego że meaning “because,” whereas więc directly links cause and effect.

How do you pronounce the nasal vowels in wąska and więc?

Ą in wąska is a nasal “o” ([ɔ̃], like French bon), and Ę in więc is a nasal “e” ([ɛ̃], like French bien).

Why does winda become windę here?

Winda (elevator) is feminine. In the accusative case (direct object), feminine nouns ending in -a change that ending to -ę: winda → windę.

What is the infinitive of wybiera, and why is it in the present tense?

The infinitive is wybierać (“to choose”). Wybiera is 3rd person singular present (“he/she chooses”). It describes a habitual or typical action: the tourist habitually opts for the elevator.

Why is the adjective leniwy placed before turysta, and why does it end in -y?

Polish usually puts adjectives before nouns. Turysta is masculine animate nominative singular, so the adjective leniwy agrees and takes the ending -y.

There are no words for “a” or “the.” How do you know if something is definite or indefinite?

Polish doesn’t have articles. Definiteness is inferred from context. W wysokiej wieży can be “in a tall tower” or “in the tall tower” depending on what you know about the situation.

Can I change the word order, for example putting wąska klatka schodowa at the beginning?

Yes. Polish word order is flexible. Wąska klatka schodowa jest w wysokiej wieży is perfectly correct. The original order simply emphasizes the location first.