Questions & Answers about Gdzie jest ten duży las?
Since we are learning about the Genitive case with 'nie ma' (there is no), why doesn't this sentence use the Genitive?
Because it uses jest (is) to ask about a location, not an absence. Sentences that state what something is or where it is use the basic dictionary form (the Nominative case). You only use the Genitive case when expressing absence or lack, such as when using nie ma.
If I wanted to answer 'This big forest is not here', how would I say that using the Genitive rule?
Why do we use the forms ten and duży here?
The word las (forest) is a masculine noun. Because of this, the words describing it—'this' (ten) and 'big' (duży)—must also be in their masculine forms to match it.
Can I put the verb at the end and ask 'Gdzie ten duży las jest?'
You can, as Polish word order is flexible, but it sounds slightly less natural. Placing the verb jest right after the question word Gdzie is the most common word order and happens to perfectly match the English 'Where is...' structure.
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