Breakdown of Biblioteka jest czynna codziennie oprócz niedzieli.
być
to be
codziennie
every day
biblioteka
the library
czynny
open
Questions & Answers about Biblioteka jest czynna codziennie oprócz niedzieli.
What does czynna mean, and why is that adjective used here?
czynna means “open” (referring to operating hours). It’s an adjective that modifies biblioteka. Since biblioteka is feminine singular in the nominative case, the adjective must agree: feminine (–a), singular, nominative, hence czynna.
Why do we say jest czynna, and can we omit jest?
jest is the third-person singular of być (“to be”), linking the subject to its predicate. In present-tense Polish, the verb jest is often dropped in such descriptive statements. Both are correct:
- With jest: Biblioteka jest czynna…
- Without jest: Biblioteka czynna…
What’s the difference between czynna and otwarta?
Both adjectives mean “open,” but:
- otwarta (from otworzyć/otwierać) emphasizes the physical act of being opened or unlocked.
- czynna (from czynność, “activity”) emphasizes that a service or institution is operating. Libraries, offices or clinics often use czynna in hours announcements.
What part of speech is codziennie, and could we say something else?