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A0–A1 · First steps · Lesson 06

Questions & negation

Ask with czy, deny with nie — and watch the object change.

To make a yes/no question, just put czy in front of a statement; the word order stays the same. To negate, put nie right before the verb. The one trick: a negated verb pulls its object from the accusative into the genitive.

Question wordMeaning
kto / cowho / what
gdziewhere
kiedywhen
dlaczegowhy
jakhow
ilehow much / many
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Czy masz czas?
Do you have time?
Nie lubię kawy.
I don't like coffee.
Dlaczego nie?
Why not?
Czy mówisz po angielsku?
Do you speak English?
Nie wiem.
I don't know.
🧠 Tactic — In speech you can drop czy and just raise your voice at the end: Czytasz? = 'Are you reading?' Listen for the rising tone.
⚠️ Watch out — Forgetting the genitive after a negative is the most common beginner slip: it is Nie mam czasu, not Nie mam czas.

Quick check

How do you make a yes/no question?

czy + a statement makes a yes/no question.

Negate: 'Mam czas' → 'Nie mam ___.'

A negated object becomes genitive.

Practice

Now produce the answers yourself — type them, choose the form, or build the sentence.

Make a yes/no question: '___ masz czas?'

czy + statement.

Nie mam ___ . (czas)

negation → genitive.

Nie ___ kawy. (lubić — ja)

nie goes before the verb.

Say: I don't know.

Build the sentence — tap the words in order:

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