Breakdown of Jest różnica między pisaniem a czytaniem.
być
to be
a
and / whereas (contrast)
między
between
różnica
difference
czytanie
reading
pisanie
writing
Questions & Answers about Jest różnica między pisaniem a czytaniem.
Why do the words for "writing" and "reading" end in -em instead of -nie?
The base verbal nouns are pisanie (from pisać, to write) and czytanie (from czytać, to read). They end in -em here because the preposition między (between) requires the Instrumental case. Verbal nouns act exactly like regular neuter nouns, so their -e ending changes to -em in the Instrumental case.
How do we know to use the -nie suffix for pisać and czytać rather than -cie?
Verbs ending in -ać, like pisać and czytać, almost always form their verbal nouns with the -nie suffix. The -cie suffix is mostly used for short verbs ending in -uć, -yć, or -ić (for example, myć becomes mycie, meaning washing, and pić becomes picie, meaning drinking).
Why does this sentence use a for "and" instead of i?
When you say "between X and Y" in Polish, the required set phrase is always między [X] a [Y]. The conjunction a is used here because it highlights a contrast or a separation between two distinct things, whereas i is used simply to group similar things together.
Does the preposition między always take the Instrumental case like it does here?
In most everyday contexts, yes. When między describes a comparison, a state, or a static location (meaning between or among), it forces the following nouns into the Instrumental case. It only takes the Accusative case when you are describing active physical motion into a space between objects.
Learn Jest różnica między pisaniem a czytaniem and more in Polish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free