Ta firanka jest ładna, ale chcę postawić drugi regał bliżej biurka.

This net curtain is pretty, but I want to put a second bookcase closer to the desk.

Breakdown of Ta firanka jest ładna, ale chcę postawić drugi regał bliżej biurka.

• ja: I
• być: to be
• ale: but
• ta: this

Questions & Answers about Ta firanka jest ładna, ale chcę postawić drugi regał bliżej biurka.

Why is it ta firanka, not ten firanka or to firanka?

Because firanka is a feminine noun in Polish, so the demonstrative this must also be feminine.

Polish has three genders in the singular:

• ten = masculine
• ta = feminine
• to = neuter

So:

• ta firanka = this curtain / net curtain
• compare:
  • ten regał = this shelving unit / bookcase because regał is masculine
  • to biurko = this desk because biurko is neuter

The ending -a in firanka is a very common sign that a noun is feminine.

Why is it ładna and not ładny?

Because adjectives in Polish must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case.

Here, firanka is:

• singular
• feminine
• nominative

So the adjective also has to be feminine singular nominative:

• ładna firanka = a pretty curtain
• ta firanka jest ładna = this curtain is pretty

Compare:

• regał jest ładny — masculine
• biurko jest ładne — neuter

So:

• ładny = masculine
• ładna = feminine
• ładne = neuter

What exactly does mean?