Breakdown of Polska jest dużym państwem.
być
to be
duży
big
Polska
Poland
państwo
state, country (a political unit)
Questions & Answers about Polska jest dużym państwem.
Why do we use dużym państwem instead of the nominative duże państwo?
When describing what a subject is using the verb być (here, jest), the following noun phrase (adjective plus noun) must be in the instrumental case. Since państwo is a neuter noun, it takes the neuter instrumental endings, becoming dużym państwem.
Could I use the word kraj instead of państwo here?
Yes, you could say Polska jest dużym krajem. While kraj generally means a country or land in a geographical or cultural sense, państwo specifically refers to a state as a political and administrative entity. In everyday conversations, they are often used interchangeably.
I have seen the word państwo used to mean ladies and gentlemen. How does that relate to this sentence?
The word państwo has two very different meanings. As a singular neuter noun, it means a state or country, just like in this sentence. But when used as a plural noun, it is a formal way to address or refer to a mixed group of people (ladies and gentlemen) or a married couple (Mr. and Mrs.).
Can I say Polska to duże państwo instead?