Questions & Answers about Ten zły pies nie śpi.
Why is the adjective zły used instead of zła or złe?
Because it is describing pies (dog), which is a masculine noun. In Polish, adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe. For masculine nouns in the subject form (Nominative), adjectives usually end in -y or -i, making it zły.
Why do we use ten for "this" here?
Just like the adjective zły, the word for "this" has to match the masculine gender of pies. Ten is the masculine form, while ta is for feminine nouns and to is for neuter nouns.
Does zły mean "bad" or "angry"?
It can actually mean both! Depending on the context, zły pies can translate to a "bad dog" (one that is misbehaving) or an "angry dog" (one that is aggressive).
Where is the word for "is" in nie śpi (is not sleeping)?
Polish doesn't use helper words like "is" or "are" for actions happening right now. The verb śpi on its own means "sleeps" or "is sleeping". To make it negative, you just put nie directly in front of the verb.
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