Breakdown of Zanim wyjdę, chcę jeszcze zaparzyć herbatę dla mamy.
ja
I
herbata
the tea
wyjść
to leave
zanim
before
Questions & Answers about Zanim wyjdę, chcę jeszcze zaparzyć herbatę dla mamy.
Why is wyjdę used after zanim? It looks like present tense, but the meaning is future.
This is because wyjdę is from the perfective verb wyjść (to go out / to leave in a completed, one-time sense).
In Polish, perfective verbs do not have a normal present-tense meaning. Their present forms refer to the future.
So:
- wychodzę = I am going out / I go out (imperfective, present)
- wyjdę = I will go out / I leave (perfective, future meaning)
After zanim (before), Polish very often uses this kind of form when talking about a future action:
- Zanim wyjdę... = Before I leave...
What is the difference between wyjdę and wychodzę here?