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Zamiast iść do kina, zostajemy dziś w domu.

Zamiast iść do kina, zostajemy dziś w domu.
Instead of going to the cinema, we are staying at home today.
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Questions & Answers about Zamiast iść do kina, zostajemy dziś w domu.

What does the verb form zostajemy tell me about the subject and time?
  • It’s 1st person plural present of zostawać (imperfective), so the subject is we (the pronoun my is omitted because the ending -emy encodes it).
  • In English it maps to “we’re staying,” i.e., present/arranged plan (often near future when paired with dziś).
Could I use zostaniemy instead of zostajemy?
  • Zostaniemy is the perfective future of zostać: “we will stay (once).”
  • Zostajemy is imperfective present: “we’re staying (today).”
  • Both can describe a plan for today; zostaniemy highlights a single, decided outcome, while zostajemy sounds like an arrangement already in progress/decided.
Why is it iść, not pójść, chodzić, or jechać?
  • iść = to go (on foot), ongoing/in-progress idea. After zamiast, it’s the natural neutral infinitive for a would-be action.
  • pójść (perfective) = to set off/go once; you’d use it more with past/future outcomes, e.g., Zamiast pójść do kina, zostaliśmy w domu.
  • chodzić = to go habitually/repeatedly; use it for routines: Zamiast chodzić do kina, oglądamy filmy w domu.
  • jechać = to go by vehicle; acceptable if you want to stress transport: Zamiast jechać do kina, …. Colloquially, iść do kina is fine even if you’ll drive.
Why do kina and w domu? Which cases are these?
  • do takes the genitive: kino → kina (genitive singular).
  • w with a static location takes the locative: dom → domu (locative singular).
  • Meaning-wise: do kina = to the cinema (direction), w domu = at home (location).
Could I say na film instead of do kina?

Yes, with a nuance:

  • iść do kina = go to the cinema (the place).
  • iść na film / na seans = go to a movie/screening (the event).
  • You can combine: iść do kina na film.
Is the comma after Zamiast iść do kina required?

Yes. An initial zamiast-phrase (a non-finite adverbial) is set off with a comma: Zamiast iść do kina, ….

  • If the zamiast-phrase comes at the end, a comma is usually not needed: Zostajemy dziś w domu zamiast iść do kina.
Can I place the zamiast-phrase at the end?
Yes: Zostajemy dziś w domu zamiast iść do kina. It’s natural. Starting with zamiast simply foregrounds the contrast.
Does zamiast always require genitive?
  • As a preposition before a noun/pronoun, yes: zamiast kina, zamiast mnie (genitive).
  • With an infinitive (zamiast iść / zamiast jechać), case isn’t involved because it’s a verb form.
Can I say Zamiast do kina, zostajemy w domu?

No. Zamiast can’t directly govern another preposition phrase like do kina. Use:

  • Zamiast iść do kina, zostajemy w domu.
  • Or a noun: Zamiast kina – dom (elliptical, stylistic).
  • Or restructure: Zamiast kina wybieramy teatr (if contrasting venues).
What about zamiast (żeby)—when is żeby used?
  • With an infinitive, use plain zamiast: Zamiast iść do kina…
  • Zamiast (żeby)
    • finite clause appears in sentences like: Zamiast (żeby) mi pomóc, narzekał = “Instead of helping me, he complained.” Here żeby is optional and colloquial; don’t insert it before an infinitive.
Where can I put dziś? Is dzisiaj the same?
  • Placement is flexible: Dziś zostajemy w domu, Zostajemy dziś w domu, Zostajemy w domu dziś (the last is less neutral).
  • dziś and dzisiaj mean the same. dziś is shorter; both are very common.
Do I need to say my (“we”)?
No. The ending -emy in zostajemy already encodes “we.” Add my only for emphasis/contrast: My zostajemy dziś w domu.
Why w domu, not do domu?
  • w domu = at home (static location).
  • do domu = to home (direction). You’d use do domu with a motion verb like wracać/jechać: Wracamy do domu.
How would this sentence look in the past and future?
  • Past (perfective going): Zamiast pójść do kina, zostaliśmy dziś w domu.
  • Future (perfective staying): Zamiast iść do kina, zostaniemy dziś w domu.
How do I pronounce the tricky bits?
  • iść: roughly “eeshch” (the ść is a soft “shch”-like sound).
  • dziś: “jeesh” (soft “j” + “sh”).
  • zostajemy: stress on the penultimate: zo-sta-YE-my; Polish y = hard i (like ɨ).
  • kina: KEE-nah. domu: DO-moo.
  • Word stress in Polish is almost always on the penultimate syllable.
What are the present forms of iść (so I don’t try to say “iś…” for “we go”)?
  • idę, idziesz, idzie, idziemy, idziecie, idą.
  • So “we go” (now) is idziemy, not anything based on iść directly.
Any other natural alternatives to express the same idea?
  • Dziś zostajemy w domu zamiast iść do kina.
  • Wolimy zostać dziś w domu niż iść do kina. (We prefer to stay home today rather than go to the cinema.)
  • Zamiast iść do kina, wolimy zostać dziś w domu.