Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Polish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Widzę odważnych policjantów.
Why are we using the Accusative case in this sentence?
The verb widzieć (to see) needs a direct object, which takes the Accusative case. Here, the direct object receiving the action is the phrase odważnych policjantów.
Why does the adjective odważnych end in -ych?
This is the Accusative plural ending for virile (masculine personal) adjectives. In Polish, when you are talking about a plural group that includes at least one man, adjectives take the -ych or -ich ending in the Accusative case.
Why is the ending for policjantów different from the adjective?
Nouns have their own set of endings. For virile (masculine personal) nouns in the Accusative plural, the most common ending is -ów (like policjantów). Some other masculine personal nouns might take -y or -i, but policjant uses -ów.
Wait, don't the -ych and -ów endings belong to the Genitive case?
You have a great memory! Yes, for virile (masculine personal) nouns and adjectives, the Accusative plural form is exactly the same as the Genitive plural form. So odważnych policjantów means brave police officers in both of those cases.