Indirect Questions
In everyday conversation—especially in formal situations like navigating university admissions—we often report questions instead of asking them directly. We say things like "I don't know where the faculty is" or "I want to ask if the fee is high." These are called indirect questions.
In Polish, indirect questions are subordinate clauses. A strict punctuation rule applies: they are always separated from the main sentence by a comma.
Using Question Words
If the original question uses a standard question word like kiedy (when) or gdzie (where), you simply use that same word to link the two halves of your sentence.
| Do you know when the recruitment is? | Czy wiesz, kiedy jest rekrutacja? |
| I don't know where I must submit this application. | Nie wiem, gdzie muszę złożyć ten wniosek. |
Yes/No Questions and "Czy"
If you are reporting a simple yes/no question, English uses "if" or "whether." In Polish, you use the word czy.
You might already know czy as the word used to start a direct yes/no question. In indirect questions, it sits right in the middle of the sentence to connect the clauses (and is always preceded by a comma).
| I would like to ask if this fee is high. | Chciałbym zapytać, czy ta opłata jest wysoka. |
| The professor didn't tell me if I have a scholarship. | Profesor nie powiedział mi, czy mam stypendium. |
Expanding with More Question Words
You can use this exact same structure with any other question word, such as kto (who), dlaczego (why), or co (what).
| We don't know who should sign this application. | Nie wiemy, kto powinien podpisać ten wniosek. |
| The students are asking why the list is in the dean's office. | Studenci pytają, dlaczego lista jest w dziekanacie. |
| The director knows what we must submit at the faculty. | Dyrektor wie, co musimy złożyć na wydziale. |
These structures are extremely useful when speaking politely with university staff in the dean's office about your applications, scholarships, and deadlines.