Że, bo, jeśli, kiedy: two thoughts in one sentence
Four conjunctions sew short phrases into connected speech: że — that, bo — because, jeśli — if, kiedy — when. That is enough for almost the whole story of your life. For example: “Mówią, że będzie śnieg” — They say it will snow. A rule from the Polish course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Four conjunctions sew short phrases into connected speech: że — that, bo — because, jeśli — if, kiedy — when. That is enough for almost the whole story of your life.
The comma before the conjunction is obligatory always — stricter than English: Wiem, że to prawda, Zadzwoń, bo mam wiadomość. A missing comma strikes a Pole at once.
The subordinate clause does not move the verb: it stands where it would stand in a separate sentence. Mówią, że będzie śnieg — they say it will snow. No shifts, no inversions.
Two small things at the end. Kiedy — when, once; gdy — whenever: Kiedy przyjadę, zadzwonię against Gdy pada śnieg, stoją korki. And after kiedy the future is spoken of in the future tense: Kiedy przyjadę, zadzwonię — when I come, I will call.
Table
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| że | that | Mówią, że będzie deszcz |
| bo | because | Jestem w domu, bo jest zimno |
| jeśli | if | Jeśli masz czas, zadzwoń |
| kiedy | when (once) | Kiedy przyjadę, zadzwonię |
| gdy | when (every time) | Gdy pada śnieg, stoją korki |
| therefore (not a conjunction) | dlatego | Pada śnieg, dlatego stoją korki |
By example
- Mówią, że będzie śniegThey say it will snow
- Choinka stoi w domu, bo święta bliskoThe tree stands in the house because the holiday is near
- Jeśli jest ładna pogoda, idziemy na spacerIf the weather is nice, we go for a walk
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Że, bo, jeśli, kiedy: how does it work in Polish?
Four conjunctions sew short phrases into connected speech: że — that, bo — because, jeśli — if, kiedy — when. That is enough for almost the whole story of your life.
What does it look like in a Polish example sentence?
“Mówią, że będzie śnieg” — They say it will snow. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.