Polish · Real conversations
Changing plans: Polish conversation practice
Explain a change and offer a clear next step. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A2 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A friend updating someone about an appointment.
Goal: Explain a change and offer a clear next step.
Read the conversation
Partner
Już jestem w kawiarni. Jesteś blisko?
Show English translation
I'm already at the café. Are you nearly here?
You
Spóźnię się dziesięć minut.
Show English translation
I'm running ten minutes late.
Partner
Dziękuję za wiadomość. Możemy też wybrać inny dzień.
Show English translation
Thanks for telling me. We could also choose another day.
You
Czy możemy to przełożyć na sobotę?
Show English translation
Can we move it to Saturday?
Partner
Sobota pasuje. Wszystko w porządku?
Show English translation
Saturday works. Is everything okay?
You
Coś mi wypadło.
Show English translation
Something has come up.
Partner
Rozumiem. Czy mam jeszcze dziś na ciebie czekać?
Show English translation
I understand. Should I still wait for you today?
You
Niestety nie mogę przyjść.
Show English translation
I'm afraid I can't make it.
Partner
Nie ma problemu. Daj znać, kiedy możesz potwierdzić sobotę.
Show English translation
No problem. Tell me when you can confirm Saturday.
You
Dam ci znać.
Show English translation
I'll let you know.
Try your part first
Partner says: I'm already at the café. Are you nearly here? Your goal: I'm running ten minutes late.
Reveal a sample reply
Spóźnię się dziesięć minut.
I'm running ten minutes late.
Partner says: Thanks for telling me. We could also choose another day. Your goal: Can we move it to Saturday?
Reveal a sample reply
Czy możemy to przełożyć na sobotę?
Can we move it to Saturday?
Partner says: Saturday works. Is everything okay? Your goal: Something has come up.
Reveal a sample reply
Coś mi wypadło.
Something has come up.
Partner says: I understand. Should I still wait for you today? Your goal: I'm afraid I can't make it.
Reveal a sample reply
Niestety nie mogę przyjść.
I'm afraid I can't make it.
Partner says: No problem. Tell me when you can confirm Saturday. Your goal: I'll let you know.
Reveal a sample reply
Dam ci znać.
I'll let you know.
Make it your own
- Be twenty minutes late.
- Cancel instead of moving the time.
- Offer two alternative dates.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking Polish
Polish distinguishes familiar ty from polite pan and pani. Choose pan when addressing a man and pani when addressing a woman formally; the paired forms shown in examples are alternatives, so say one. A formal question usually uses a third-person verb, such as Czy może pan …? First-person past and conditional forms can change with the speaker’s gender.
Keep letters such as ą, ę, ł, ń, ó, ś, ź, and ż. Noun and adjective endings can change with their role in the sentence. Learn the complete expression before replacing a name, object, or time.
