Questions & Answers about On jest Polakiem i pracuje w biurze.
Why does the sentence use Polakiem instead of the dictionary word Polak?
When using the verb być (to be) to state someone's nationality, profession, or identity, Polish uses a grammar form called the Instrumental case. For a masculine noun like Polak (a Polish man), we add the ending -iem, making it Polakiem.
If the subject was a woman, would I still use Polakiem?
No, you would use the feminine word for a Polish woman, which is Polka. Because of the same rule requiring the Instrumental case after the verb to be, Polka changes its ending to -ą. The sentence would be: Ona jest Polką i pracuje w biurze.
What is the base form of the verb pracuje, and why does it look so different?
The dictionary form is pracować (to work). In Polish, verbs ending in -ować drop the -ować and replace it with -uj- before adding their normal present-tense endings. For on (he), the ending is -e, resulting in pracuje.
Why is it w biurze instead of w biuro?