Questions & Answers about Przynajmniej mamy wodę.
What does przynajmniej mean in this sentence?
Przynajmniej translates as “at least.” It’s used to point out a minimum positive fact or to offer a small consolation when other things aren’t going so well.
Why is the verb mamy used here instead of jest or mamy jest?
Mamy is the first-person plural form of mieć (“to have”), so it literally means “we have.” In Polish, when you talk about possessing something (even non-material like time or luck), you use mieć + object. Using jest (“there is”) would shift the construction to an impersonal existence: Jest woda (“There is water”), which is also correct but slightly different in nuance.
Why is wodę in the accusative case rather than nominative (woda)?
Because mieć governs a direct object, you must put that object into the accusative case. The nominative woda becomes wodę in the accusative singular. It’s the standard pattern for most feminine nouns ending in “-a.”
Can I say Mamy przynajmniej wodę instead of Przynajmniej mamy wodę?