Polish Instrumental Case

Content

The instrumental is the fifth of the 7 cases.

Its main use is to represent the tool/instrument being used in the instrument. It is also used with the verb być (to be).

It answers the questions:

– kim? (who?)
czym? (what?)

 

Instrumental Case Usage

1. Represent the tool/instrument being used

Napisałem książkę długopisem.
(I wrote the book with a pen / I wrote the book using a pen)

Jeżdżę do pracy pociągiem.
(I go to work by train)

2. With the verb “być” to express another noun (Być to express only an adjective is used in the nominative case)

When być (be) is used to express only an adjective, the nominative is used instead.

Mój przyjaciel jest lekarzem.
(My friend is a doctor)

Kim jesteś?
(Who are you?)

3. With certain prepositions

These include: z (with), poza (besides, behind), przed (before, in front of), między (between, among), nad (over, above), za (beyond, behind), pod (under), and more.
Click here for more of these prepositions.

Idę z przyjacielem.
(I am going with a friend)

Poza tym.
(Besides this)

Samochód jest zaparkowany przed szkołą.
(The car is parked in front of the school)

Stoję między nimi.
(I am standing between them)

Telewizja się znaduję nad półką.
(The television is located above the shelf)

On jest za mną.
(He is behind me)

Piwnica jest pod domem.
(The basement is under the house)

4. With certain verbs

Some verbs require verbs in the instrumental case. More of these verbs are listed here.

Interesuję się historią.
(I am interested in history)

Cieszę się życiem.
(I enjoy life)

5. With certain phrases expressing time

Nocą.
(By night)

Dniem.
(By day)

Całymi dniami.
(Days on end)

 

Instrumental Case Declension

Instrumental Singular Nouns

Masculine

– Receive em ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Singular
samochód (car)

obraz (picture)

guzik (button)

samochodem

obrazem

guzikiem

Feminine

– Receive ą ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Singular
córka (daughter)

podłoga (floor)

flaga (flag)

córką

podłogą

flagą

Neuter

– Receive em ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Singular
auto (car)

dziecko (child)

drzewo (tree)

autem

dzieckiem

drzewem

 

Instrumental Singular Adjectives

Masculine

– If it ends with a hard or hardened consonant, except k and g, receives ym ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Singular
duży (big)

inny (different)

dużym

innym

– If it ends with a soft consonant, or k or g, receive im ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Singular
tani (cheap)

wysoki (tall)

tanim

wysokim

Feminine

– Receive ą ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Singular
duży (big)

tani (cheap)

dużą

tanią

Neuter

– If it ends with a hard or hardened consonant, except k and g, receives ym ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Singular
duży (big)

inny (different)

dużym

innym

– If it ends with a soft consonant, or k or g, receive im ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Singular
tani (cheap)

wysoki (tall)

tanim

wysokim

 

Instrumental Plural Nouns

Masculine

– Most receive ami ending

Nominative Singular Instrumental Plural
kolega (colleague)

znak (sign)

zegar (clock)

kolegami

znakami

zegarami

– Only a few receive mi ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Singular
przyjaciel (friend)

liść (leaf)

przyjaciółmi

liśćmi

Feminine

– Most receive ami ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Singular
kobieta (woman)

koszula (shirt)

rzecz (thing)

kobietami

koszulami

rzeczami

– Only a few receive mi ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Singular
kość (bone) kośćmi

Neuter

– Receive ami ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Plural
krzesło (chair)

światło (light)

nozdrze (nostril)

krzesłami

światłami

nozdrzami

 

Instrumental Plural Adjectives

Masculine, feminine, and neuter instrumental plural adjectives receive the same endings.

All Genders

– If it ends with a hard consonant, except k and g, or a hardened consonant, receives ymi ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Plural
duży (big)

inny (different)

dużymi

innymi

– If it ends with a soft consonant, or k or g, receives imi ending.

Nominative Singular Instrumental Plural
tani (cheap)

wysoki (tall)

tanimi

wysokimi

 

Declension Tables

Singular Nouns

Singular Adjectives

Plural Nouns

Plural Adjectives