Sign inSign up

Klientka prosi kelnerkę o rachunek i resztę.

Klientka prosi kelnerkę o rachunek i resztę.
The female customer asks the waitress for the bill and the change.
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Polish grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Polish now

Questions & Answers about Klientka prosi kelnerkę o rachunek i resztę.

What do the forms in bold (klientka, kelnerkę) tell me about gender?
  • klientka = a female customer (masculine: klient).
  • kelnerka = a female server/waitress (masculine: kelner).
  • The suffix -ka often marks a feminine counterpart of a profession or role.
Why is it kelnerkę and not kelnerka or kelnerce?
  • With prosić (to ask/request), the person you ask is in the accusative: pattern prosić kogoś o coś.
  • Feminine nouns ending in -a take -ę in the singular accusative: kelnerka → kelnerkę.
  • It’s not dative (kelnerce) because Polish uses the accusative for the addressee after prosić.
Why are the things requested in o rachunek i resztę in those forms?
  • The preposition o with prosić takes the accusative.
  • Masculine inanimate accusative = nominative, so rachunek stays rachunek.
  • Feminine -a nouns change to -ę, hence reszta → resztę.
  • Both coordinated nouns share the same case: o rachunek i resztę.
Does o always take the accusative?
  • No; it depends on meaning:
    • o + accusative with meanings like for/about (request, struggle, worry): prosić o rachunek, walczyć o pokój, martwić się o dzieci.
    • o + locative when it means about (topic): mówić o filmie, myśleć o pracy, czytać o historii.
What is the difference between prosić and pytać?
  • prosić = to request/ask someone for something: Proszę o rachunek (I’m asking for the bill).
  • pytać = to ask a question (about something): Pytam o rachunek means you’re asking a question about the bill, not asking to get it.
What exactly is prosi? Is there a perfective form?
  • prosi is 3rd person singular present of imperfective prosić. It can translate as both “asks” and “is asking.”
  • The common perfective partner is poprosić (single, completed request). Past perfective: Klientka poprosiła kelnerkę o rachunek i resztę (She asked… once).
  • Very common polite request: Poproszę rachunek or Poproszę o rachunek.
How would the sentence change if the server were male? Or if the customer were male?
  • Male server: Klientka prosi kelnera o rachunek i resztę.
  • Male customer, female server: Klient prosi kelnerkę o rachunek i resztę.
  • Both male: Klient prosi kelnera o rachunek i resztę.
Why is there no word for the before rachunek?
  • Polish has no articles (a/an/the). Definiteness comes from context.
  • If needed, use a demonstrative: ten rachunek (this/the bill).
Is this a sentence I would actually say in a restaurant?
  • It reads like narration. In real life you’d say, for example:
    • Przepraszam.
    • Poproszę rachunek.
    • Czy mogę prosić o rachunek?
    • With polite address: Przepraszam, Pani. / Przepraszam, Panie.
Do I have to repeat o before the second item (resztę)?
  • No. o rachunek i resztę is normal and correct.
  • Repeating is possible for emphasis: o rachunek i o resztę.
What is the difference between rachunek, paragon, and faktura?
  • rachunek: the bill/check you pay at a restaurant.
  • paragon: receipt (proof of payment), common in shops and restaurants.
  • faktura: VAT invoice for companies. To ask: Poproszę fakturę.
What exactly does reszta mean?
  • General: the rest/remainder.
  • In payment contexts: change (money returned after paying too much).
  • Example: Poproszę resztę z pięćdziesięciu (Change from 50).
How do I pronounce the tricky parts?
  • ch in rachunek sounds like the German ch in Bach (a voiceless h).
  • sz in resztę is like English sh but a bit harder.
  • Final ę (as in kelnerkę, resztę) is usually pronounced like plain e with slight nasalization; often just e in casual speech.
  • si in prosi sounds like English “shi.”
Can I drop some words if context is clear?
  • Yes. Typical requests:
    • Poproszę rachunek.
    • Czy możemy prosić o rachunek?
  • In narration you can omit the addressee: Klientka prosi o rachunek i resztę.
  • Avoid just Klientka prosi kelnerkę without an o-phrase; it feels incomplete.
Is there a polite way to call the waitress without saying Kelnerko!?
  • Yes. Kelnerko! can sound rude.
  • Prefer: Przepraszam. or Przepraszam, Pani. Then: Poproszę rachunek.
Why not use kelnerce (dative) for the person, like some languages do?
  • Polish uses the accusative for the addressee after prosić: prosić kogoś o coś.
  • Dative is used with other verbs (e.g., pomagać komuś = help someone), but not with prosić.
How would I replace the nouns with pronouns?
  • Person asked (accusative, feminine): ją — Klientka prosi ją o rachunek.
  • Things requested after o use the long accusative pronouns:
    • o niego = for it (masc., e.g., rachunek)
    • o nią = for it (fem., e.g., reszta)
  • Example if the bill was mentioned: Proszę o niego.