Breakdown of Nigdy nie mam czasu na smażenie.
mieć
to have
nie
no / not
na
on, at / to (motion toward) / for (a meal) / for (waiting for)
czas
time
nigdy
never
smażenie
frying
Questions & Answers about Nigdy nie mam czasu na smażenie.
Why does the sentence use both nigdy and nie?
Polish requires a double negative. Whenever you use a negative word like nigdy (never), you must also put nie in front of the verb. A literal translation would be "I never do not have".
Why is it czasu and not czas?
The verb mieć (to have) normally takes the accusative case, so you would say mam czas (I have time). However, whenever you negate a verb that takes the accusative, its object automatically changes to the genitive case. Because it is nie mam, the word czas changes to the genitive czasu.
What case is smażenie in after the preposition na?
It is in the accusative case. The preposition na followed by the accusative is used to express purpose, such as what time or money is intended for (having time for something). Because smażenie is a neuter noun, its accusative form looks exactly the same as its nominative form.
How is the word smażenie formed and what is its aspect?
Smażenie is a verbal noun (similar to an English gerund ending in "-ing") created from the imperfective verb smażyć (to fry). Verbal nouns keep the aspect of the verb they come from. Because it is derived from an imperfective verb, smażenie focuses on the ongoing, general process of frying rather than a single completed action.
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