Kiedy słyszę grzmot, od razu zamykam okno.

When I hear thunder, I immediately close the window.

Breakdown of Kiedy słyszę grzmot, od razu zamykam okno.

• ja: I
• zamykać: to close
• okno: the window
• kiedy: when

Questions & Answers about Kiedy słyszę grzmot, od razu zamykam okno.

Why is there no word for I in the sentence?

Polish usually drops subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb ending.

• słyszę = I hear
• zamykam = I close / I am closing

So ja is not necessary here. You could say Ja kiedy słyszę grzmot, od razu zamykam okno, but that would usually add emphasis, like I do this.

What does kiedy mean here?

Here kiedy means when.

In this sentence it introduces a time clause:

• Kiedy słyszę grzmot = When I hear thunder / When I hear a thunderclap

It is followed by a comma before the main clause:

• Kiedy słyszę grzmot, od razu zamykam okno.

Why is there a comma after grzmot?

Because Kiedy słyszę grzmot is a subordinate clause, and in Polish subordinate clauses are normally separated from the main clause by a comma.

So the structure is:

• Kiedy słyszę grzmot = subordinate clause
• od razu zamykam okno = main clause

This comma is standard and important in Polish writing.

What form is słyszę?