Konstrukcja mieć + bezokolicznik: mam dostać awans

Czasownika mieć używamy w konstrukcjach z bezokolicznikami (nie tylko z powiedzieć), aby wyrazić możliwość, powinność, konieczność, a także dystans do niesprawdzonej informacji.

(We use the verb mieć in constructions with infinitives (not only with powiedzieć) to express possibility, obligation, necessity, and also distance from unverified information.)

Teacher explanation

What this construction is (and why it can sound like a command)

mieć + infinitive (e.g. masz spakować) is a very common Polish way to say that something is:

required (often like an instruction/command),
scheduled / expected (a plan, an agenda item),
supposed to have happened (but it didn’t),
or reported / heard (unconfirmed information).

Think of it as English “to be supposed to / to be to” or sometimes “have to”—depending on context.

Build it: present/past forms of “mieć” + infinitive

Formula	mieć (conjugated) + infinitive
Key point	The second verb stays in the infinitive: spakować, omówić, dostać, zwolnić
Word order	Mam/masz/ma/mamy/macie/mają + (time) + infinitive + (object)

Meaning 1: “You are to…” = instruction / strong expectation

Often used by a boss/parent/authority.
Sounds more like an instruction than a neutral plan.

Polish	Masz wysłać raport dzisiaj.
Natural English	You have to / You are to send the report today.

Tip: With ty it can feel like a direct order: Masz to zrobić.

Meaning 2: “We are to…” = scheduled / on the agenda

This is common in professional settings (meetings, plans, deliverables).

Polish	Mamy jutro omówić nową strategię.
What it implies	It’s expected/scheduled (not necessarily your personal wish).

Self-check: If you can add “according to the plan/agenda” in English, this meaning fits well.

Meaning 3: past “miał/miała…” = supposed to (but didn’t happen)

The past form of mieć often suggests a plan/expectation that was not fulfilled.

Polish	Miała dostać wyższe stanowisko, ale zrezygnowała.
Natural English	She was supposed to get a higher position, but she resigned.

miałem / miałam + infinitive = “I was supposed to …”
Very often followed by ale… / jednak… (but/however).

Meaning 4: “They are to…” + “podobno” = hearsay / unconfirmed news

With podobno (“apparently / reportedly”), the speaker signals: I heard this, I’m not confirming it.

Polish	Podobno mają zwolnić kilku pracowników.
Natural English	Apparently/Reportedly, they’re going to lay off a few employees.

Pay attention: Without podobno, mają zwolnić can sound more like an official plan.

What to pay attention to (common learner pitfalls)

Infinitive only after mam/masz/ma…: mam zrobić, not ~~mam zrobię~~.
Same structure, different meaning → decide by context:
- Boss tone → instruction
- Calendar words (jutro, w poniedziałek, o 10:00) → scheduled
- Past (miał/miała…) + contrast (ale…) → didn’t happen
- podobno → hearsay
Don’t confuse with possession:
- Mam raport. = I have a report. (possession)
- Mam wysłać raport. = I’m supposed to / I have to send a report. (task/expectation)

Quick decision guide (choose the right English meaning)

Is it in the past (miał/miała/mieli)? → usually was/were supposed to.
Is it said by someone giving instructions? → have to / are to.
Is it an agenda/plan statement? → are to / are supposed to.
Is there podobno? → apparently/reportedly + unconfirmed.

When we want to talk about something predicted or necessary, treated like an order.

Coś wymaganego natychmiast lub bezwzględnie (Something required immediately or unconditionally)	Masz spakować swoje rzeczy! (You have to pack your things!)
Coś zaplanowanego lub oczekiwanego (Something planned or expected)	Mamy jutro omówić z zarządem nową strategię. (We are supposed to discuss the new strategy with the board tomorrow.)
Coś co miało się wydarzyć, ale się nie wydarzyło (Something that was supposed to happen but didn’t)	Miała dostać wyższe stanowisko, ale zrezygnowała. (She was supposed to get a higher position, but she resigned.)
Informacja niesprawdzona, zasłyszana (Unverified, overheard information)	Podobno mają zwolnić kilku pracowników. (Apparently they are going to fire* a few employees.*)

Exceptions!

The meaning depends on the context and tense — the same construction can express an order, a plan, or a rumour.
The past tense (miałem, miałam) often suggests a plan that was not carried out.

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. _____ dzisiaj wysłać raport do dyrektora.

2. Mamy jutro _____ nową strategię z zarządem.

3. Miała _____ wyższe stanowisko, ale zrezygnowała.

4. Podobno mają _____ kilku pracowników w tym miesiącu.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences using the construction mieć + infinitive so as to preserve the meaning (e.g. “Muszę zadzwonić.” → “Mam zadzwonić.”).

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints

Musisz dzisiaj wysłać ten e-mail do klienta.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Masz dzisiaj wysłać ten e-mail do klienta.
(You are to send this email to the client today.)
Jutro planujemy spotkać się z księgową o 10:00.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Mamy jutro spotkać się z księgową o 10:00.
(We are to meet with the accountant tomorrow at 10:00.)
Miałem jutro oddać raport, ale zachorowałem.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Miałem jutro oddać raport, ale zachorowałem.
(I was supposed to submit the report tomorrow, but I got sick.)
Podobno zwolnią kilku pracowników w przyszłym miesiącu.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Podobno mają zwolnić kilku pracowników w przyszłym miesiącu.
(Apparently they are to lay off a few employees next month.)