This lesson explains how to express age in Polish using the verb mieć and the noun rok in its forms: rok (1), lata (numbers ending in 2, 3, 4, except 12–14), and lat (other numbers). Example: Mam 1 rok, Mam 3 lata, Mam 5 lat.
- The form of the noun depends on the plural ending.
- The word rok only appears on its own and means one year.
- Numbers ending in 2, 3, 4 (except 12–14) are combined with the form lata.
- Numbers ending in 12–14 as well as all other numbers take the form lat.
| Zakres liczby (Range of the number) | Forma rzeczownika (noun form) | Przykład (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) | rok | Mam (1) rok. |
| liczby zakończone na 2, 3, 4 (numbers ending in 2, 3, 4) (oprócz 12–14) (except 12–14) | lata | Mam 2 lata / Mam 24 lata / Mam 52 lata. |
| pozostałe liczby (other numbers) | lat | Mam 5 lat /11 lat / 14 lat /21 lat / 35 lat/ 60 lat. |
Exceptions!
- The word rok itself means "one", which is why the numeral "one" is not used.
- The numbers 12, 13 and 14, although ending in 2, 3, 4, take the form lat.
Exercise 1: Formy używane przy wyrażaniu wieku
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
lata, lat, rok
1.
Mój pies ma 5 ....
(My dog is 5 years old.)
2.
Ten chłopiec ma 4 ....
(This boy is 4 years old.)
3.
Moja siostra ma 3 ....
(My sister is 3 years old.)
4.
Mój dziadek ma 74 ....
(My grandfather is 74 years old.)
5.
Moje dziecko ma ....
(My child is one year old.)
6.
Nasza babcia ma 80 ....
(Our grandmother is 80 years old.)
7.
Mamy 14 ....
(We are 14 years old.)
8.
Moja mama ma 41 ....
(My mother is 41 years old.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Mam ____ lat.
(I am ____ years old.)2. Mam ____ .
(I am ____ .)3. Mam dwadzieścia ____ .
(I am twenty ____ .)4. Mam ____ .
(I am ____ .)5. Mam ____ .
(I am ____ .)6. ____ masz lat?
(____ old are you?)
