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Questions & Answers about Po prostu wolę zostać w domu.
What does Po prostu add to the sentence?
It means simply/just. It softens the statement and suggests there isn’t a complicated reason: you just prefer it. The sentence works without it, but Po prostu makes it sound more casual and polite.
Is Po prostu required?
No. Wolę zostać w domu is fully correct. Adding Po prostu only changes the tone.
Where can I put Po prostu?
Most natural placements:
- Po prostu wolę zostać w domu.
- Wolę po prostu zostać w domu. Putting it at the very end (Wolę zostać w domu po prostu) can sound like an afterthought; not wrong, just more conversational.
Why is it wolę and not something with a future form?
Wolę (I prefer) governs the infinitive. You must use an infinitive after it: wolę zostać, not wolę zostanę. Other examples: wolę iść, wolę poczekać.
What’s the difference between wolę and preferuję?
Both mean “I prefer,” but:
- wolę (from wolić) is the everyday, natural choice.
- preferuję (from preferować) is more formal/learned and used less in casual speech. In this sentence, wolę sounds best.
How do you conjugate wolić?
- ja wolę
- ty wolisz
- on/ona/ono woli
- my wolimy
- wy wolicie
- oni/one wolą
Why zostać and not zostawać?
Aspect. Zostać is perfective (a single, concrete choice: I’ll stay this time). Zostawać is imperfective (habit/general tendency). Compare:
- Wolę zostać w domu = I’d prefer to stay home (now/this time).
- Wolę zostawać w domu = In general, I prefer staying home.
Does zostać also mean “to become”?
Yes, with a different structure and meaning: zostać + instrumental = “become.” For example, zostać lekarzem (to become a doctor). In your sentence it means “to stay/remain.”
Why is it w domu and not something else?
After w meaning “in/at,” you use the locative case: w domu (locative of dom). It expresses being inside/at a place, not movement.
How do I say “go home” vs “stay at home”?
- “Go home”: iść do domu (movement to a place, hence do
- genitive).
- “Stay at home”: zostać w domu (w
- locative for location).
Does w domu mean “in the house” or “at home”?
Both are possible, but in this common collocation it’s usually understood as “at home.”
Can I include the subject ja?
Yes, for emphasis/contrast: Ja po prostu wolę zostać w domu (“I, for my part, prefer…”). Normally it’s dropped because the verb ending already shows the person.
How do I say “I’d rather stay at home”?
Use the conditional of wolać:
- Masculine speaker: Wolałbym zostać w domu.
- Feminine speaker: Wolałabym zostać w domu. It’s a bit softer/more tentative than wolę.
How can I make it clear I mean “today/tonight”?
Add a time adverb:
- Dziś po prostu wolę zostać w domu.
- Po prostu wolę zostać dziś w domu. Placement is flexible; keep it near the verb phrase.
Any common colloquial alternatives to zostać here?
Yes, siedzieć in this context means “stay/hang out”:
- Po prostu wolę siedzieć w domu. (very colloquial)
Pronunciation tips for tricky bits?
- wolę: final ę is often pronounced like plain “e” in casual speech; that’s fine.
- zostać: ć is a soft sound (like a “t” blended with “sh”).
- w domu: the w before the voiced d sounds like English “v,” so it’s close to “v domu.”
- Stress is on the second-to-last syllable: po PROstu, WOlę, doMU, ZOstać.
Is there any politeness nuance?
Yes. Po prostu helps make a refusal sound less confrontational, like “I just prefer to stay home,” without offering a long explanation.
What if I want to express the negative alternative?
Two natural options:
- Po prostu wolę nie wychodzić. (I simply prefer not to go out.)
- Po prostu nie chcę wychodzić. (I simply don’t want to go out.)