When you need your team to work fast and meet tight deadlines, you often need to express doing something "as... as possible." In Polish, this is done by simply adding the word jak before a superlative adverb or adjective.
As... as Possible (with Adverbs)
To say "as quickly as possible" or "as well as possible," take the superlative form of an adverb (which already starts with the prefix naj-) and place jak immediately before it.
- jak najszybciej (as fast/quickly as possible)
- jak najlepiej (as well as possible)
- jak najwcześniej (as early as possible)
| Please supervise this update and do it as fast as possible. | Proszę nadzorować tę aktualizację i zrobić to jak najszybciej. |
| We must optimize the allocation of resources as well as possible before we start. | Musimy optymalizować przydział zasobów jak najlepiej, zanim zaczniemy. |
As... as Possible (with Adjectives)
You can apply the exact same structure to adjectives. Just place jak before the superlative adjective. Remember that the adjective must still agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case.
| A strict schedule requires as much efficiency as possible. | Rygorystyczny harmonogram wymaga jak największej sprawności. |
For longer adjectives that form their superlative using najbardziej (the most), simply place jak in front of najbardziej.
| We need as rigorous a correction as possible before the client arrives. | Potrzebujemy jak najbardziej rygorystycznej korekty, zanim przyjedzie klient. |
Combining with Emphatic Commands
In a busy work environment, you will often hear this intensifier combined with the emphatic imperative particle -że to create an urgent, pressing command.
| Reduce this risk and prepare the correction as early as possible! | Zmniejszże to ryzyko i przygotuj korektę jak najwcześniej! |