Questions & Answers about Nowe budynki nie są znane.
Why do the adjectives nowe and znane end in -e rather than -i?
In the plural, Polish adjectives have two forms: "virile" (for groups containing at least one man) and "non-virile" (for everything else, including objects, animals, and women). Because budynki (buildings) are inanimate objects, we use the non-virile ending -e for both nowe (new) and znane (known).
What is the singular form of budynki, and why does it look a bit different?
The singular is budynek. When changing it to the plural, the last e drops out. This is called a "fleeting vowel," which is very common in Polish words ending in -ek. Then we add the plural ending -i (which is used after k or g), giving us budynki.
Don't we usually use the Instrumental case after the verb "to be" (są)?
Only when equating a noun with another noun (like "They are architects"). When you are just describing a noun with an adjective (like "The buildings are new" or "The buildings are known"), the adjectives simply match the noun in the Nominative case.
Does the word znane (known) come from the verb znać?
Yes! Znać means "to know" a person, place, or thing (to be familiar with it). Znany is the adjective form meaning "known" or "familiar." Since buildings are physical places you can be familiar with, this is the perfect word to use.
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