Questions & Answers about Ta różowa sukienka jest ładna.
Why do almost all the words in this sentence end with the letter "-a"?
In Polish, words have genders. The word for dress, sukienka, is feminine, which usually means it ends in "-a". Words that describe or point to it like ta (this), różowa (pink), and ładna (pretty) must match this feminine gender, so they also take the "-a" ending.
Why is "this" translated as "ta" and not "to" or "ten"?
The word for "this" changes to match the gender of the noun. Because sukienka is a feminine noun, we use the feminine form, ta. You would use ten for masculine nouns and to for neuter nouns.
I thought words after "jest" had to change their endings. Why is "ładna" in its basic dictionary form?
Great question! You are thinking of the rule where a noun following jest changes its ending (the Instrumental case). However, when you use jest to say what a noun is like, and you only use an adjective (like ładna), the adjective stays in its basic subject form (the Nominative case).
Can I change the word order and say "Ta sukienka różowa jest ładna"?
It is best to stick to ta różowa sukienka. Just like in English, Polish adjectives that describe basic everyday qualities or colors usually go right before the noun. Putting różowa after the noun sounds quite unnatural here.