Breakdown of Bank jest naprzeciwko ratusza.
być
to be
ratusz
the town hall
naprzeciwko
opposite
bank
the bank
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Polish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Bank jest naprzeciwko ratusza.
Which case is ratusza and why?
It’s genitive singular of ratusz. The preposition naprzeciwko always governs the genitive, so ratusz → ratusza.
Why not ratuszem or ratuszu?
- ratuszem is instrumental; you use it after przed (e.g., przed ratuszem).
- ratuszu is locative; you use it after w, o, przy (e.g., w ratuszu). Since naprzeciwko takes the genitive, neither instrumental nor locative works here.
Is naprzeciwko one word? How is it different from naprzeciw or przeciwko?
- naprzeciwko and naprzeciw (both one word) mean “opposite” and both take the genitive.
- Writing na przeciwko (two words) is nonstandard; avoid it.
- przeciwko without the prefix means “against” (non-spatial) and takes the dative (e.g., przeciwko rządowi).
Can I change the word order?
Yes. All of these are correct:
- Bank jest naprzeciwko ratusza.
- Naprzeciwko ratusza jest bank. (emphasis on location)
- Jest bank naprzeciwko ratusza. (often reads like There is a bank opposite the town hall) Differences are about emphasis, not grammar.
Does naprzeciwko mean the same as “in front of”?
No. naprzeciwko = opposite/across from (often with a street in between). “In front of” is przed + instrumental: Bank jest przed ratuszem. Near-synonyms:
- na wprost ratusza (directly opposite)
- po drugiej stronie ulicy (across the street)
How do I pronounce the tricky parts?
- naprzeciwko: stress the second-to-last syllable (na-prze-CIW-ko). rz ≈ English zh; ci before a consonant is pronounced as soft ć; and w becomes f before k, so you’ll hear something like “-ćif-ko.”
- ratusza: ra-TU-sha. sz = English sh.
Why is there no the or a?
Polish has no articles. Bank can correspond to English a bank or the bank; context decides.
What are the dictionary forms and genders of bank and ratusz?
Both are masculine inanimate.
- bank (genitive: banku)
- ratusz (genitive: ratusza, locative: ratuszu)
Do I have to use jest? Can I drop it?
Use jest in normal sentences. It may be omitted in headlines, maps, or notes (elliptical style), e.g., Bank naprzeciwko ratusza.
Can I use znajduje się or mieści się instead of jest?
Yes. Bank znajduje się naprzeciwko ratusza is slightly more formal/locational. Bank mieści się naprzeciwko ratusza can suggest “is housed/located.”
What pronouns follow naprzeciwko?
Use genitive forms: naprzeciwko mnie, ciebie, niego/niej, nas, was, nich.
How would the sentence look in the plural?
Change the verb and subject; the prepositional phrase stays the same:
- Banki są naprzeciwko ratusza.
Any capitalization rules to know for ratusz and bank?
Common nouns are lowercase (ratusz, bank). Capitalize when part of a proper name: Ratusz Głównego Miasta, Bank Pekao. The first word of a sentence is capitalized by default.
Should I add od after naprzeciwko?
No. Say naprzeciwko ratusza, not naprzeciwko od ratusza.
Is ratusz the same as urząd miasta?
Not exactly. ratusz is the town/city hall building (often historical). urząd miasta is the city administration/office; it might be in the ratusz or elsewhere.