Breakdown of Kiedy szef potrzebuje pomocy, nigdy mu nie odmawiam.
nie
no / not
szef
boss (m)
mu
to him
nigdy
never
kiedy
when
potrzebować
to need
pomoc
help
odmawiać
to refuse (imperf)
Questions & Answers about Kiedy szef potrzebuje pomocy, nigdy mu nie odmawiam.
Why do we use mu (him) here instead of go?
The verb odmawiać (to refuse) is one of the special verbs that requires the Dative case. So, instead of using the Accusative go like a standard direct object, we use the Dative mu to express who we are refusing.
Why is the word for help pomocy instead of the dictionary form pomoc?
The verb potrzebować (to need) always requires its object to be in the Genitive case. That is why we change the basic form pomoc to its Genitive form, pomocy.
Why is mu placed before nie odmawiam rather than at the end of the sentence?
Short pronoun forms like mu shouldn't go at the very end or the very beginning of a clause if it can be avoided. Placing mu right after nigdy safely tucks it into the middle of the phrase.
The sentence translates to I never refuse him, but it uses both nigdy and nie. Why are there two negative words?
Unlike English, Polish requires a double negative. Whenever you use a negative word like nigdy (never), you must also put nie (not) in front of the verb. Literally, this phrase says: never him not I refuse.
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