Breakdown of Proszę pokazać dowód osobisty.
proszę
please; here you are
pokazać
to show
dowód osobisty
identity card
Questions & Answers about Proszę pokazać dowód osobisty.
Why use proszę pokazać instead of the command form pokaż?
Using proszę followed by an infinitive like pokazać is a polite, formal way to give an instruction or make a request. It is frequently used by officials, police, or shop assistants. Pokaż (the informal "you" command) would sound far too direct or rude in a formal situation where someone is checking your ID.
Why is dowód osobisty in the nominative case here if it is the direct object?
It is actually in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb pokazać! However, for inanimate masculine nouns (objects, not people or animals), the accusative form is exactly the same as the nominative (dictionary) form. That is why the ending does not change.
Why isn't there a word for "your" in the Polish sentence?
In Polish, possessive pronouns like twój or swój are usually left out when the context makes it obvious who the object belongs to. Adding it here would sound unnatural and redundant, since the official is clearly asking for your own ID.
Why use the perfective verb pokazać instead of the imperfective pokazywać?
You are being asked to perform a single, completed action: to present the ID card so the person can check it. Perfective verbs like pokazać are used for these focused, one-time actions with a clear result.
What does dowód osobisty literally mean?
The word dowód means "proof" or "evidence," and osobisty means "personal." So, an identity card in Poland is literally called a "personal proof."
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