Questions & Answers about Sklep jest blisko, więc idę pieszo.
What does each word in Sklep jest blisko, więc idę pieszo mean?
A word-by-word breakdown is:
- sklep = shop / store
- jest = is
- blisko = near / nearby
- więc = so / therefore
- idę = I am going / I go (from iść)
- pieszo = on foot / walking
So the sentence is literally: The shop is nearby, so I’m going on foot.
Why is sklep in the basic form?
Because sklep is the subject of the sentence: The shop is nearby.
Its basic dictionary form is the nominative singular, and that is exactly what you use for the subject:
- Sklep jest blisko. = The shop is nearby.
There is no reason to change the case here.
Why do we use jest here? I thought Polish often leaves out to be.
Polish often omits jest in informal speech, especially in the present tense, but keeping it is completely normal and standard.
So:
- Sklep jest blisko. = standard, neutral
- Sklep blisko. = more casual, conversational
For learners, it is usually safest to include jest until you get a better feel for when omission sounds natural.
Why is it blisko and not something like or ?