Questions & Answers about To jest palec.
Why do we use To instead of Ten, since palec is a masculine word?
Why doesn't the word palec change its ending here? I thought we usually add endings after the verb "to be".
When you use the specific phrase To jest... (This is...), the noun that follows stays in its basic dictionary form, which is called the Nominative case. You only change the ending to the Instrumental case when you use a regular pronoun, for example if you were to say On jest... (He is a...).
Do I always need to include jest, or can I just say To palec?
You can actually drop the word jest in everyday speech! Saying To palec is completely natural, very common, and means the exact same thing as To jest palec.
Does palec mean "toe" as well as "finger"?
Yes! In Polish, palec translates to both "finger" and "toe". If you need to be specific about a toe, you would call it a palec u nogi (literally "finger at the leg"), but usually the context makes it clear.
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