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
