Everything you need for the B1 exam — in plain English.
🧩 7 Cases🔤 Alphabet❓ WH-Questions
NOM MianownikGEN DopełniaczDAT CelownikACC BiernikINS NarzędnikLOC MiejscownikVOC Wołacz
NOM
MianownikKto? Co?🇬🇧 Who is doing it? What is it?
The Nominative is the dictionary form — the form you look up. Use it for the subject of a sentence (the doer of the action) and after “to jest” (this is) / “jestem” (I am).
📌 B1 Tips
→ This is the dictionary form of every word.
→ Use it for the subject — the “doer” of the action.
→ After “To jest…” (this is a…): To jest pies.
Example with Rząd (Government)
rząd
Rząd ogłosił nowe prawo. — The government announced a new law.
GEN
DopełniaczKogo? Czego?🇬🇧 Of whom? Of what?
The Genitive shows possession (“of”), appears after negation (nie ma…), with quantities, and after many prepositions (do, od, bez, dla, z).
📌 B1 Tips
→ Possession: książka studenta (the student’s book).
→ After negation: Nie ma czasu (there is no time).
→ After do / od / bez / dla / z (from).
Example with Rząd (Government)
rządu
Nie mamy informacji na temat rządu. — We don't have information about the government.
DAT
CelownikKomu? Czemu?🇬🇧 To whom? To what?
The Dative marks the indirect object — the recipient. Used with verbs like dać (give), pomóc (help), and after dzięki / ku.
📌 B1 Tips
→ Indirect object: Daję bratu prezent (I give my brother a gift).
→ With pomagać: Pomagam mamie.
→ After dzięki (thanks to).
Example with Rząd (Government)
rządowi
Złożyłem prośbę do rządu. — I submitted a request to the government.
ACC
BiernikKogo? Co?🇬🇧 Whom? What?
The Accusative marks the direct object of most verbs, and follows motion prepositions (na, w, przez) when there is movement.
📌 B1 Tips
→ Direct object: Widzę psa (I see the dog).
→ After przez (through / for a duration).
→ Movement: Idę na koncert.
Example with Rząd (Government)
rząd
Widzę rząd w telewizji. — I see the government on TV.
INS
NarzędnikKim? Czym?🇬🇧 With whom? With what?
The Instrumental means “with / by means of”, names professions (jestem nauczycielem), and follows z (together with), nad, pod, przed, za.
📌 B1 Tips
→ Means: piszę długopisem (I write with a pen).
→ Profession: Jestem lekarzem.
→ After z (with): z przyjacielem.
Example with Rząd (Government)
rządem
Rozmawiam z rządem. — I am talking with the government.
LOC
MiejscownikO kim? O czym?🇬🇧 About whom? About what?
The Locative only appears after prepositions of place/topic: w, na, o, przy, po. It never stands alone.
📌 B1 Tips
→ Location: w domu (at home), na stole (on the table).
→ Topic: mówię o filmie (I talk about the film).
→ Always after w / na / o / przy / po.
Example with Rząd (Government)
rządzie
Mówili o rządzie na konferencji. — They spoke about the government at the conference.
VOC
Wołacz—🇬🇧 Direct address
The Vocative is used for direct address — calling or addressing someone. Common in letters and greetings (Drogi Janie!).
📌 B1 Tips
→ Addressing: Aniu! Panie profesorze!
→ In letters: Droga Mamo!
→ Often replaced by Nominative in casual speech.
Polish Alphabet & Special Letters
Polish uses the Latin alphabet plus nine special letters. These change pronunciation — master them for listening and speaking.