Polish · A1 · Grammar
How to ask questions in Polish: Czy, co, gdzie and kiedy
Use czy to introduce a yes-or-no question: Czy masz bilet? To ask for missing information, start with a question word such as gdzie (where), kiedy (when) or co (what). Listen for the first word so you know whether to answer yes or no, give a place or give a time.
Library date
Turn a statement into a question
Masz bilet. You have a ticket. Czy masz bilet? Do you have a ticket? In conversation, Masz bilet? can be a question with the right intonation. Adding czy is useful when you want the sentence to signal clearly that you are asking.
Choose the answer you need
Gdzie jest kasa? Where is the ticket window? Kiedy odjeżdża pociąg? When does the train leave? Co to znaczy? What does this mean? For a price, use Ile to kosztuje? (How much does this cost?).
Czy can also mean or
Herbata czy kawa? is Tea or coffee? Answer with your choice: Herbata, proszę. Compare Czy chcesz herbatę? (Do you want tea?), which can be answered Tak, proszę. Practise both; you are listening for the kind of answer the question asks for.