Questions & Answers about Nowe kafelki są ładniejsze i łatwiej je czyścić.
Why is it nowe kafelki, and not something like nowi kafelki?
Because nowe has to agree with kafelki in number and grammatical gender.
- kafelki is plural.
- It is not a masculine-personal plural noun (it refers to things, not male people).
- In Polish, adjectives with non-masculine-personal plurals usually take the ending -e.
So:
- nowy kafelek = a new tile
- nowe kafelki = new tiles
The form nowi is used with masculine-personal plural nouns, for example:
- nowi uczniowie = new male/mixed students
Why is są used here? Can Polish leave out to be in the present tense?
In this sentence, są is needed because it is the present-tense form of być (to be) and it links the subject to the adjective ładniejsze.
- Nowe kafelki są ładniejsze = The new tiles are prettier/nicer
Unlike some other Slavic languages, standard Polish normally does not omit być in present-tense sentences like this.
So:
- Kafelki są ładniejsze = correct
- Kafelki ładniejsze = incomplete in standard Polish, unless used very informally or as a fragment
Why is it ładniejsze?