Conjunctions
Conjunctions can join words, phrases or clauses which have the same function
in the sentence. This type is called
Coordinating conjunction.
The other possible function, called
subordinating conjunction,
introduces noun and adverbial clauses. This type either joins clauses or
begins a sentence.
Coordinating conjunctions:
| i |
= and; to link related objects |
| a |
= and; to show a contrast between two objects |
| oraz |
= at the same time |
| i <a>, i <b> |
= both <a> and <b> |
| ale / lecz |
= but |
| albo |
= or |
| lub |
= or |
| albo <a>, albo <b> |
= either <a> or <b> |
| albo i |
= or even |
| albo nawet |
= or even |
| ani <a>, ani <b> |
= neither <a> nor <b>; verb has to be negative |
You need commas:
- before ale and lecz
- before a if the preceding and the following clause contrast
with each other
- before the 2nd of two identical conjunctions
Subordination conjunctions:
There are 7 different types of subordinate clauses to introduce a subordinate
clause. These are: cause, comparison,
concession, condition,
purpose, result and time.
Cause:
| bo |
= because; non-emphatic |
| bowiem |
= because; stands after the verb |
| dlatego (że) |
= for the reason (that) |
| gdyż |
= because |
| ponieważ |
= since |
| skoro |
= since; stands at the beginning of a sentence |
| bo może ... |
= because maybe |
| bo inaczej |
= otherwise |
| zwłaszcza, że |
= especially as |
Comparison:
| natomiast / tymczasem |
= whereas / but |
| zaś |
= but; follows the verb |
| im ... tym |
= the ... the |
| niż |
= than |
| jak |
= as |
| tak ..., jak |
= thus ... as |
| tak jakby / jak gdyby |
= as if |
If the verb in the main clause and in the
jak-clause are identical
the verb in the
jak-clause is omitted.
Concession:
| jednak |
= nevertheless; follows the verb |
| a jednak |
= after all |
| choć / chociaż |
= although |
| (po)mimo że |
= despite the fact that |
| i tak |
= in any case |
Condition:
| czy |
= whether |
| czy ..., czy |
= whether ... or |
| jeśli / jeżeli |
= if; real condition (used in future) |
| jeśliby / jeżeliby |
= if; possible condition (used in future) |
| gdyby / jakby |
= if; impossible condition (used in past) |
| gdyby / jakby ... to |
= if only ... then |
| byle (tylko) |
= on condition that (conditional tense) |
| chyba że |
= unless; real condition |
| chyba żeby |
= unless; unreal condition |
Purpose:
| żeby / aby / byle |
= so that / in order to |
| by |
= so that / in order to; used only colloquially |
| aby .. nie |
= so that ... not |
Result:
| tak ..., że |
= so that |
| na tyle ..., że |
= enough ... to |
| kiedy / jak ... to |
= if ... then |
| więc |
= therefore |
| zatem |
= therefore; used in books |
| aby |
= only to |
Time:
| kiedy |
= when; precise time |
| gdy |
= when; circa |
| (za)ledwie ... gdy |
= scarcely ... than |
| (za)ledwo ... gdy |
= scarcely ... when |
| kiedy tylko |
= whenever |
| gdy/jak/skoro tylko |
= as soon as |
| jak |
= when |
| (do)póty |
= up to that time |
| (do)póki |
= while |
| (do)póki |
= until (when followed by nie) |
| (pdczas) gdy |
= while |
| zanim |
= before |
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