Saying "A is B" with "to"
In English, when we want to state that one thing is another, we use the verb "to be" (for example, "A noun is a word"). In Polish, there is a wonderfully simple shortcut for these "Noun is Noun" sentences: the particle to.
When you use to to connect two nouns, you do not need a conjugated verb. Both nouns stay in their basic, dictionary form (the Nominative case). Let's learn this structure by defining some basic grammar terms.
Nouns and Verbs
To say "A noun is a word", simply put to right between the two nouns. In the examples below, you will also see the word a, which translates to "and" or "while" and is used to lightly contrast two statements.
Conjunctions: więc and zatem
When building logical definitions, you will often use conjunctions like więc (so) and zatem (therefore) to connect your thoughts.
Pronouns and Prepositions
A pronoun is a zaimek, and a preposition is a przyimek. Notice how the to particle keeps these equative sentences crisp and straightforward.
Subjects, Predicates, and Sounds
The subject of a sentence is the podmiot, and the predicate is the orzeczenie.
Finally, when talking about the sounds that make up words, a vowel is a samogłoska and a consonant is a spółgłoska.