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### The Suffix "-stwo"

In Polish, the suffix **-stwo** is used to create abstract concepts or collective nouns. It can be added to the stems of nouns, adjectives, or verbs. Because these words end in *-o*, they are all neuter nouns.

Let's start with a common example: *małżeństwo*. Depending on the context, it can mean the abstract concept of "marriage" or the collective group "married couple".

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### Collective Groups and Institutions

The *-stwo* suffix is frequently used to refer to a collective group of people, management, or an institution based on a root noun. For example, from *szef* (boss), we get *szefostwo* (the management / the bosses).

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When using prepositions that require the Genitive case (like *oprócz* - apart from, or *z powodu* - because of), the neuter ending *-o* changes to **-a**, making the ending *-stwa*.

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### Abstract Concepts and States

You can also form abstract concepts related to location, status, or relationships. From *sąsiad* (neighbor), we get *sąsiedztwo* (neighborhood). From *członek* (member), we get *członkostwo* (membership). And from *kierownik* (manager), we get *kierownictwo* (leadership).

When talking about being "in" a state or location, you will often use the Locative case. The ending *-stwo* softens and becomes **-stwie**. For example, *sąsiedztwo* becomes *w sąsiedztwie*.

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### Nouns from Adjectives and Verbs

The *-stwo* suffix can also turn verbs and adjectives into nouns describing actions, conditions, or states. From words like *oszukać* (to cheat) or *oszust* (fraudster), we get *oszustwo* (fraud). 

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From the adjectives *bogaty* (rich) and *ubogi* (poor), we get *bogactwo* (wealth) and *ubóstwo* (poverty). Notice the Locative *-stwie* form used again below.

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Finally, we can derive nouns describing extreme states or periods of life, like *szaleństwo* (madness, from *szaleć* - to go crazy) and *macierzyństwo* (motherhood, from *matka* - mother).

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Abstract and collective nouns (-stwo)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

predicative

preposition

pronoun

proper noun

sentence

verb

This is (to jest)

The verb to be, singular (być)

Formal address (Pan, Pani)

Demonstrative pronouns (ten, ta, to)

Adjective agreement

Negation (nie)

Basic questions (czy, kto, co, gdzie, jak)

The verb to be, plural (być)

Present tense -m/-sz verbs

Reflexive verbs (się)

Coordinating conjunctions (i, a, ale)

Feminine direct objects (Accusative)

Inanimate direct objects (Accusative)

Animate masculine direct objects (Accusative)

Present tense verbs 2 (-ę, -isz / -ysz)

Expressing location (w, na)

Locative adjective agreement

Professions and nationalities (Instrumental)

Accompaniment (z + Instrumental)

Present tense verbs 3 (-ę, -esz)

Plural possessives (nasz, wasz)

Numbers 1 to 10

Genitive of possession

Genitive of negation

Lack or absence (nie ma)

Basic quantifiers (dużo, mało, trochę)

Liking things (podoba mi się)

Modal verbs (móc, musieć)

Subordinating conjunctions (bo, że)

Unidirectional motion verbs (iść, jechać)

Expressing age (mieć... lat)

Habitual motion (chodzić, jeździć)

Expressing destination (do)

Days of the week (poniedziałek, wtorek...)

Plural nouns for objects and animals

Plural nouns for people

Plural adjective agreement

Accusative object pronouns (go, ją, je...)

The past tense of to be (był)

Singular past tense (-łem, -łam...)

Expressing age (mieć + lata / lat)

Plural past tense (-li / -ły)

Perfective past tense

Future tense (będę + infinitive)

Age: one year (mieć rok)

Prices and currency (złoty, grosz)

Destination (na + accusative)

Non-masculine plurals (-e, -y, -i)

Instrumental pronouns (ze mną, z tobą)

To know (znać vs wiedzieć)

The future perfective tense

The imperative mood

Months of the year (styczeń, luty)

Greetings and farewells (dzień dobry, cześć)

Introducing yourself (mam na imię)

Thank you and sorry (dziękuję, przepraszam)

Left, right, up and down (po lewej stronie)

Parts of the body (ręka, noga)

Parts of the day (dzień, noc, południe)

What is it like? (jaki, jaka, jakie)

Speaking Polish (mówić po polsku)

Instrumental for adjectives (dobrym, dobrą)

Please do... (proszę + infinitive)

Interests (interesować się + Instrumental)

Can one? (można, trzeba, nie wolno)

By bus or by train (jechać autobusem)

Where are you from? (jestem z Polski)

Where exactly? (obok, przy, przed, za, pod, nad)

What time is it? (Która godzina?)

Not seeing her (go, jej, ich; niego, niej, nich)

When I have time (kiedy as a conjunction)

Irregular past stems (miał, mieli)

The verb 'iść' in the past (szedł, szli)

Imperfective future (będę odpoczywał)

Past aspect (robił vs zrobił)

Future aspect (będzie malował vs pomaluje)

Perfective motion with po- (pójść, pojechać)

Arrival verbs with przy- (przyjść, przyjechać)

Departure verbs with wy- (wyjść, wyjechać)

The Vocative case (Panie, Mamo)

Plural possessives (moi, moje)

Reflexive possessive pronouns (swój)

Genitive plural of masculine nouns (-ów, -y, -i)

Genitive plural of feminine and neuter nouns

Genitive plural of adjectives (-ych, -ich)

Accusative plural of masculine personal nouns

Question	Answer
marriage	małżeństwo
Their marriage was very happy.	Ich małżeństwo było bardzo szczęśliwe.
This young married couple bought a big house.	To młode małżeństwo kupiło duży dom.
management	szefostwo
The management did not agree to a raise.	Szefostwo nie zgodziło się na podwyżkę.
Apart from the bosses, nobody knew anything.	Oprócz szefostwa nikt nic nie wiedział.
neighborhood (immediate vicinity, proximity)	sąsiedztwo
We live in a quiet neighborhood.	Mieszkamy w cichym sąsiedztwie.
They moved out because of the bad neighborhood.	Wyprowadzili się z powodu złego sąsiedztwa.
membership	członkostwo
Membership in this club costs a lot.	Członkostwo w tym klubie dużo kosztuje.
He cares about membership in the party.	Jemu zależy na członkostwie w partii.
leadership	kierownictwo
The new leadership changed the rules.	Nowe kierownictwo zmieniło zasady.
I talked with the management about my promotion.	Rozmawiałem z kierownictwem o moim awansie.
fraud	oszustwo
It was a huge fraud.	To było wielkie oszustwo.
You can go to prison for this fraud.	Za to oszustwo grozi więzienie.
wealth	bogactwo
Wealth does not always give happiness.	Bogactwo nie zawsze daje szczęście.
Health is a great wealth.	Zdrowie to wielkie bogactwo.
poverty	ubóstwo
Many people in the world live in poverty.	Wielu ludzi na świecie żyje w ubóstwie.
Politicians fight poverty.	Politycy walczą z ubóstwem.
madness	szaleństwo
To do it now is true madness!	Zrobić to teraz to prawdziwe szaleństwo!
Their love was madness.	Ich miłość to było szaleństwo.
motherhood	macierzyństwo
Motherhood is a very important period.	Macierzyństwo to bardzo ważny okres.
She told us about her motherhood.	Opowiadała nam o swoim macierzyństwie.