Chcę pojechać do pracy autobusem, bo pada deszcz.

I want to go to work by bus because it is raining.

Breakdown of Chcę pojechać do pracy autobusem, bo pada deszcz.

• ja: I
• do: to
• bo: because
• praca: the work

Questions & Answers about Chcę pojechać do pracy autobusem, bo pada deszcz.

Why is ja not included? Shouldn’t it be Ja chcę... for I want...?

In Polish, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

• chcę = I want
• chcesz = you want
• chce = he/she/it wants

So Chcę pojechać... already clearly means I want to go...

You can add ja for emphasis, contrast, or emotion:

• Ja chcę pojechać do pracy autobusem. = I want to go to work by bus.

But in a neutral sentence, leaving it out is more natural.

Why is it chcę, and what is the basic form of this verb?

Chcę is the 1st person singular form of the verb chcieć = to want.

This verb is a little irregular, so its forms do not follow the simplest pattern. Some present-tense forms are:

• chcę = I want
• chcesz = you want
• chce = he/she/it wants
• chcemy = we want
• chcecie = you all want
• chcą = they want

So in this sentence:

• Chcę pojechać... = I want to go...

Why is the verb pojechać used instead of jechać?