Word
On jest bardzo dobrym kierowcą.
Meaning
He is a very good driver.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Questions & Answers about On jest bardzo dobrym kierowcą.
Why doesn't this sentence use the basic dictionary words dobry kierowca?
In Polish, when you describe what someone is (like their profession, role, or nationality) using the verb jest (is), the noun and the adjective attached to it must change to the Instrumental case. That is why the basic phrase dobry kierowca changes to dobrym kierowcą.
Why does the masculine noun kierowca change to kierowcą? Isn't -ą a feminine ending?
You are right to be suspicious! The ending -ą is usually for feminine nouns in the Instrumental case. However, masculine nouns that end in -a in their basic dictionary form (like kierowca, mężczyzna, or kolega) borrow the feminine pattern when changing their endings in the singular.
How do we know to change the adjective dobry to dobrym?
Because the noun is in the Instrumental case, the adjective must match it. Even though kierowca borrows a feminine ending, it is still a masculine noun. For masculine nouns in the Instrumental case, adjectives take the -ym or -im ending, which turns dobry into dobrym.
Does the word bardzo (very) need to change its ending here?
No, bardzo is an adverb, and adverbs in Polish never change their endings. It stays exactly the same no matter what case, gender, or number the rest of the sentence uses.