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### Bypassing and going around: ob- and obe-

In Polish, adding the prefix **ob-** (or **obe-** when the verb root starts with certain consonant clusters for easier pronunciation) to a verb of motion changes its meaning to "going around" or "bypassing" an object. The obstacle you are going around becomes the direct object and takes the **Accusative** case.

### Walking around (obejść)

To describe bypassing an obstacle on foot, use the perfective verb **obejść**. It is very handy when navigating past an obstacle like a puddle (**kałuża**) or a blockade (**blokada**).

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### Driving around (objechać)

When you are in a vehicle, you bypass obstacles using the perfective verb **objechać**. Just like walking, the obstacle takes the Accusative case. However, remember the standard Polish negation rule: if the verb is negated (e.g., *nikt nigdy nie objechał*), the direct object switches to the **Genitive** case.

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### Running around (obiec) and "dookoła"

To run around something, use the perfective verb **obiec**. If you want to emphasize running *all the way around* in a full circle, you can add the word **dookoła** to the sentence. While **dookoła** operates as a preposition requiring the Genitive case when used on its own (e.g., *dookoła jeziora*), when used as an adverb alongside these prefixed verbs, the verb still governs the object in the Accusative case.

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### Navigating road hazards

When driving, going around obstacles often involves a detour (**objazd**). You'll need to follow a street sign (**znak**) or rely on your navigation (**nawigacja**) to steer clear of a minor crash (**stłuczka**).

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Verbs for bypassing (ob-, obe-)

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
to walk around	obejść
puddle	kałuża
I had to walk around this big puddle.	Musiałem obejść tę dużą kałużę.
blockade	blokada
We can walk around the blockade on the right side.	Możemy obejść blokadę po prawej stronie.
to drive around	objechać
The driver bypassed the blockade by car.	Kierowca objechał blokadę samochodem.
hole	dziura
No one ever drove around this hole.	Nikt nigdy nie objechał tej dziury.
to run around	obiec
The child ran around the lake.	Dziecko obiegło jezioro dookoła.
The dog quickly ran around this hole.	Pies szybko obiegł tę dziurę.
sign	znak
detour	objazd
The sign on the street indicates a detour.	Znak na ulicy wskazuje objazd.
navigation	nawigacja
Navigation found a new detour.	Nawigacja znalazła nowy objazd.
I found a key in a puddle.	Znalazłem klucz w kałuży.
minor crash	stłuczka
Navigation informed about a minor crash on the street.	Nawigacja poinformowała o stłuczce na ulicy.
I didn't see this sign.	Nie widziałem tego znaku.
We were going by taxi because there was a minor crash.	Jechaliśmy taksówką, bo była stłuczka.
inscription, written notice (m)	napis
There is some writing on the wall.	Na ścianie jest jakiś napis.
What does this sign say?	Co znaczy ten napis?

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