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### The Prefix "po-": Actions on Multiple Objects

You already know that the prefix **po-** can mean doing something for a short time. However, it has another very common use: acting as a **distributive** prefix. When you add **po-** to certain verbs and pair them with a plural object, it means performing that action on multiple things, one by one, until the task is complete.

This turns the verb into a perfective (completed) action. It is especially useful when talking about workplace chores, like closing up a shop and its backroom (**zaplecze**). These distributive verbs are also frequently paired with **wszystkie** (all).

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### Turning Off and Checking

When shutting down the workplace, you might need to turn off multiple monitors or check a stack of invoices. Instead of standard perfective verbs, you can use the distributive forms **powyłączać** (to turn off many things) and **posprawdzać** (to check many things) to emphasize that you handled them all, one after another.

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### Cleaning and Putting Away

The same pattern applies to cleaning up. If you are throwing away multiple items of trash or boxes, use **powyrzucać**. If you are putting away several things—such as returning binders (**segregatory**) to a shelf or closet—use **pochować**.

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### More Distributive Actions

You will see this prefix on many other everyday verbs when plural objects are involved. For instance, **pootwierać** means to open multiple things (like windows, doors, or cabinets), and **pomyć** means to wash multiple things (like cups or dishes).

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Distributive action prefix (po-)

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
backroom	zaplecze
We have to clean the backroom after work.	Musimy posprzątać zaplecze po pracy.
Where is this small backroom?	Gdzie jest to małe zaplecze?
to close up	pozamykać
all (the)	wszystek
Did you close all the windows in the backroom, sir?	Czy pan pozamykał wszystkie okna na zapleczu?
You have to close up the doors and windows in the shop.	Musisz pozamykać drzwi i okna w sklepie.
monitor	monitor
There are two new monitors on the desk.	Na biurku są dwa nowe monitory.
The employee looked at the monitor for an hour.	Pracownik patrzył w monitor przez godzinę.
to turn off (many things)	powyłączać
Please turn off the monitors and lights!	Proszę powyłączać monitory i światła!
They turned off all the monitors yesterday.	Oni powyłączali wczoraj wszystkie monitory.
to check (many things)	posprawdzać
The boss has to check our documents.	Szefowa musi posprawdzać nasze dokumenty.
Have you checked these invoices?	Czy państwo posprawdzali te faktury?
to throw away (many things)	powyrzucać
The old trash needs to be thrown out of the backroom.	Trzeba powyrzucać stare śmieci z zaplecza.
The employees threw the empty boxes into the bin.	Pracownicy powyrzucali puste pudełka do kosza.
binder	segregator
Her new binder is very heavy.	Jej nowy segregator jest bardzo ciężki.
How many invoices are on this shelf?	Ile faktur jest na tej półce?
to put away (many things)	pochować
We have to put all the binders away in the closet.	Musimy pochować wszystkie segregatory do szafy.
The manager put the important things away in the drawer.	Kierownik pochował ważne rzeczy do szuflady.
to open (many things)	pootwierać
Why did you open all these cabinets in the morning?	Dlaczego rano pootwierałaś te wszystkie szafki?
Someone opened the windows, and it is raining.	Ktoś pootwierał okna, a pada deszcz.
to wash (many things)	pomyć
The waitresses washed the dirty dishes after dinner.	Kelnerki pomyły brudne naczynia po kolacji.
I am going to the backroom to wash the cups.	Idę na zaplecze pomyć kubki.