Questions & Answers about Co pan dzisiaj pije?
Why isn't the word czy used in this question?
The word czy is only used for yes/no questions. Because this sentence asks 'what' using the specific question word co, we don't need czy. You just start the question with co.
The translation says 'What are you drinking', but isn't pije the 'he/she' form of the verb?
Yes! In Polish, when you speak formally to a man using pan (sir), you must use the 'he/she/it' form of the verb. So pan pije literally translates to 'the gentleman drinks', but it is the standard way to say a polite 'you are drinking'. If you were talking to a friend, you would use the informal 'you' form: Co dzisiaj pijesz?
Does Polish have a difference between 'What do you drink' and 'What are you drinking'?
No, Polish only has one present tense. The verb pije covers both 'drinks' (in general) and 'is drinking' (right now). The word dzisiaj (today) gives the context that we mean right now.
Could I change the word order to Co dzisiaj pije pan?
Yes, Polish word order is very flexible, so that is grammatically correct and would be understood. However, Co pan dzisiaj pije? sounds the most natural. Polish speakers usually put polite titles like pan early in the sentence, right after the question word.
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