Polish · Real conversations
Repairing a conversation: Polish conversation practice
Check a meaning and leave with something you can use. 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 learner asking a patient conversation partner for clarification.
Goal: Check a meaning and leave with something you can use.
Read the conversation
Partner
To imię trochę trudno zapisać.
Show English translation
The name is a little difficult to spell.
You
Czy może pan/pani to zapisać?
Show English translation
Could you write it down?
Partner
Oczywiście. To słowo opisuje regularną czynność.
Show English translation
Of course. This word describes a regular action.
You
Czy może pan/pani podać przykład?
Show English translation
Could you give me an example?
Partner
Na przykład spotykamy się pod koniec tygodnia pracy.
Show English translation
For example, we meet at the end of the working week.
You
Czy ma pan/pani na myśli piątek?
Show English translation
Do you mean Friday?
Partner
Tak, w piątek. Spotykamy się przed dworcem.
Show English translation
Yes, Friday. We meet outside the station.
You
Sprawdzę, czy dobrze rozumiem: spotykamy się w piątek.
Show English translation
Let me check that I understood: we meet on Friday.
Partner
Zgadza się. Zapisz w notatkach słowo oznaczające to miejsce.
Show English translation
That's right. Write the word for that place in your notes.
You
Czy to właściwe słowo?
Show English translation
Is this the right word?
Try your part first
Partner says: The name is a little difficult to spell. Your goal: Could you write it down?
Reveal a sample reply
Czy może pan/pani to zapisać?
Could you write it down?
Partner says: Of course. This word describes a regular action. Your goal: Could you give me an example?
Reveal a sample reply
Czy może pan/pani podać przykład?
Could you give me an example?
Partner says: For example, we meet at the end of the working week. Your goal: Do you mean Friday?
Reveal a sample reply
Czy ma pan/pani na myśli piątek?
Do you mean Friday?
Partner says: Yes, Friday. We meet outside the station. Your goal: Let me check that I understood: we meet on Friday.
Reveal a sample reply
Sprawdzę, czy dobrze rozumiem: spotykamy się w piątek.
Let me check that I understood: we meet on Friday.
Partner says: That's right. Write the word for that place in your notes. Your goal: Is this the right word?
Reveal a sample reply
Czy to właściwe słowo?
Is this the right word?
Make it your own
- Ask for an example about your own day.
- Check a second possible meaning.
- Ask the person to write a different word.
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.
