Word
To jest filiżanka do kawy.
Meaning
This is a coffee cup.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Questions & Answers about To jest filiżanka do kawy.
Why do we say do kawy instead of using an adjective like kawowa?
In Polish, to express what an object is meant to be used for, we typically use the preposition do followed by the genitive case. So filiżanka do kawy literally translates as a cup for coffee. This is the most natural way to name purpose-built everyday items.
What is the exact difference between filiżanka and kubek?
A filiżanka is a delicate cup, usually made of porcelain and paired with a saucer, meant for serving coffee or tea. A kubek is a standard mug, which is larger, thicker, and used for casual everyday drinking.
Wait, shouldn't the noun after jest be in the instrumental case?
Usually, yes! But there is a special exception for sentences starting with the demonstrative pronoun to (this). In the structure to jest plus a noun, the noun stays in the basic nominative case (filiżanka). If the subject were a regular noun or a personal pronoun, like Ona jest, you would need the instrumental case (filiżanką).
Why does kawa change to kawy in this sentence?
The preposition do always forces the following noun into the genitive case. Because kawa is a feminine noun ending in -a, its genitive form replaces the -a with a -y, making it kawy.