Polish · A1 · Grammar

The Polish instrumental: Say what you do and who you are with

Learn two common uses of the instrumental: Jestem nauczycielką (I’m a teacher) and Idę z kolegą (I’m going with a friend). In the second pattern, z means with. The same case appears in a phrase like Jadę pociągiem, where it tells you how you are travelling.

Library date 22 October 2026

Jobs after być

Compare To jest lekarz (This is a doctor) with On jest lekarzem (He’s a doctor). For a woman, Ona jest lekarką is She’s a doctor. Learn the full phrase for your own job, including any adjective: Jestem nowym pracownikiem means I’m a new employee.

With a person or an ingredient

Kawa z mlekiem is coffee with milk. Idę z Anią means I’m going with Ania. Compare z domu (from home): z meaning from takes the genitive, while z meaning with takes the instrumental.

Another useful pattern: by means of

Jadę pociągiem means I’m travelling by train, and Płacę kartą means I’m paying by card. Neither needs z. Answer Z kim idziesz? (Who are you going with?) with Z Anią, then answer Czym jedziesz? (How are you travelling?) with Pociągiem.