Breakdown of Moja kuzynka lubi polski film.
Questions & Answers about Moja kuzynka lubi polski film.
In Polish, possessive pronouns agree with the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe.
- kuzynka is a feminine noun (it means a female cousin).
- The feminine singular form of mój (my) is moja.
Basic nominative forms of mój:
- masculine singular: mój (mój brat – my brother)
- feminine singular: moja (moja kuzynka – my cousin [female])
- neuter singular: moje (moje dziecko – my child)
- plural (non‑masculine‑personal): moje (moje książki – my books)
- plural (masculine‑personal): moi (moi koledzy – my male friends)
So it must be moja kuzynka because kuzynka is feminine.
Polish makes a clear distinction between male and female relatives:
- kuzyn = male cousin
- kuzynka = female cousin
Some useful forms:
- one male cousin: kuzyn
- one female cousin: kuzynka
- group of cousins including at least one man: kuzyni
- group of only female cousins: kuzynki
In your sentence, moja kuzynka tells us it is a female cousin.
Polish usually drops subject pronouns (I, you, he, she, etc.) because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.
- lubi is the 3rd person singular form (he/she/it likes).
- The noun moja kuzynka already tells us who the subject is.
So:
- Moja kuzynka lubi polski film.
Literally: My cousin (female) likes Polish film.
Adding ona would normally sound redundant:
- Ona lubi polski film. – correct, but you use this when you really want to emphasize she as the subject, usually in contrast to someone else.
The verb lubić (to like) is conjugated according to the subject. In the present tense:
- ja (I) – lubię
- ty (you, sg.) – lubisz
- on / ona / ono (he / she / it) – lubi
- my (we) – lubimy
- wy (you, pl.) – lubicie
- oni / one (they) – lubią
The subject here is moja kuzynka = she, so you need the 3rd person singular:
- Moja kuzynka lubi polski film. – My (female) cousin likes Polish film.
If you were talking about yourself, you’d say:
- Lubię polski film. – I like Polish film.
Moja kuzynka = subject (the one who likes)
→ Nominative case (kto? co? – who? what?)polski film = direct object (the thing she likes)
→ Accusative case (kogo? co? – whom? what?)
Forms:
- kuzynka – nominative singular feminine (subject)
- film – accusative singular masculine inanimate
For masculine inanimate nouns, the accusative form looks the same as nominative (film – film).
That’s why you see polski film, not a form like polskiego filmu in this positive sentence.
polski film is in the accusative, used for the direct object of lubić in an affirmative sentence.
- polski film – accusative (here = nominative form, because film is masculine inanimate)
polskiego filmu is genitive singular, and you use that form in other contexts, for example:
After some prepositions:
- bez polskiego filmu – without a Polish film
- dla polskiego filmu – for Polish film / for Polish cinema
After negation of verbs like lubić:
- Moja kuzynka nie lubi polskiego filmu. – My cousin does not like the Polish film.
To express possession or of:
- fabuła polskiego filmu – the plot of the Polish film
So polski film is correct in the affirmative sentence with lubi.
Polish has no articles like English a/an or the. Nouns appear without them:
- polski film can mean:
- a Polish film
- the Polish film
- Polish film in general (Polish cinema)
The context usually tells you whether it feels more like a, the, or a general idea. In many cases, like here, you could translate it in several natural ways:
- My cousin likes Polish films / Polish film / Polish cinema.
Polish can use either singular or plural depending on the nuance:
Moja kuzynka lubi polski film.
- Often understood as Polish film in general (as a type / genre), similar to French literature, classical music.
- Can also refer to one specific film if the context makes that clear.
Moja kuzynka lubi polskie filmy.
- Clearly means Polish films in the plural – she likes many Polish movies.
Both are grammatically correct. The singular can express a general category, which is why polski film can sound like “Polish cinema” as a whole.
Polish word order is more flexible than English, but there is a neutral order:
- Moja kuzynka lubi polski film. – neutral, most natural.
Other orders are possible and can add emphasis:
Kuzynka moja lubi polski film.
- Sounds more poetic or emphatic; you’re stressing kuzynka, and moja feels slightly highlighted or stylistic.
Polski film lubi moja kuzynka.
- Very marked order; it emphasizes polski film, almost like:
“It’s Polish film that my cousin likes (as opposed to something else).”
- Very marked order; it emphasizes polski film, almost like:
All these can be grammatically correct, but for everyday speech the safest, most natural version is the original:
- Moja kuzynka lubi polski film.
All three can relate to liking, but they’re used differently:
lubić – to like (general, stable preference)
- Moja kuzynka lubi polski film. – My cousin likes Polish film.
- You can use it for people, things, activities, food, etc.
podobać się – to appeal to someone / to be liked by someone
Structure: [something] podoba się [komuś]- Ten film podoba się mojej kuzynce. – This film appeals to my cousin / My cousin likes this film.
- Often used for first impressions, visual appeal, specific items (a particular movie, dress, song).
kochać – to love (strong emotion)
- Moja kuzynka kocha polski film. – My cousin loves Polish film.
- Much stronger than lubić; you normally reserve it for people, very strong passions, etc.
In your sentence, lubić is the standard, natural choice.
The negative form is:
- Moja kuzynka nie lubi polskiego filmu.
Changes compared to the positive sentence:
Add nie before the verb:
- lubi → nie lubi
The object typically changes to genitive after negation of verbs like lubić:
- polski film (accusative) → polskiego filmu (genitive)
So:
- Moja kuzynka lubi polski film. – My cousin likes Polish film.
- Moja kuzynka nie lubi polskiego filmu. – My cousin doesn’t like Polish film.