Questions & Answers about Co pan o tym sądzi?
Why is the verb sądzi used here instead of a "you" form like sądzisz?
In Polish, formal address uses pan (for a man) or pani (for a woman) paired with the third-person singular form of the verb (he/she/it). So literally, this sentence asks "What does the gentleman think?" but it translates to the formal "What do you think, sir?".
Why does the sentence use tym instead of to for "it"?
The word tym is the Locative case form of to (it/this). The preposition o (meaning "about") requires the word that follows it to take the Locative case. Therefore, o to becomes o tym (about it/this).
What is the difference between sądzić and myśleć? Could I use myśli here instead?
Yes, you can! Co pan o tym myśli? is perfectly correct and very common. However, sądzić focuses specifically on having an opinion, evaluating, or making a judgment. When you ask Co pan o tym sądzi?, you are specifically asking "What is your opinion on this?" rather than just asking what is on their mind.
Why is o tym placed before the verb sądzi? Can I say Co pan sądzi o tym?
You can say Co pan sądzi o tym?, but putting short pronoun phrases like o tym before the verb is very natural in Polish. Polish word order is flexible, and placing the verb at the end of a short question often puts a slight emphasis on the action itself—in this case, the act of judging or having an opinion.