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This lesson covers the instrumental case (narzędnik) in Polish, focusing on asking 'z kim? z czym?' and expressing professions like nauczycielem (teacher), lekarzem (doctor), and kelnerką (waitress). Learn how to describe your job and relationships using the instrumental endings.
  1. We use the instrumental case to say what someone's profession is (e.g. Jestem nauczycielem) or what nationality they have (e.g. On jest Hiszpanem).
  2. We also use it to say with what we do something (e.g. Piszę długopisem) and how we move (e.g. Jadę samochodem).
  3. The instrumental case occurs after the preposition "z" for example z kolegą, z psem.
mianownik kto? co? (nominative who? what?)narzędnik z kim? z czym? (instrumental case with whom? with what?)
nauczyciel (teacher)jestem nauczycielem (I am a teacher)
kelnerka (waitress)jestem kelnerką (I am a waitress)
lekarz (doctor)jestem lekarzem (I am a doctor)
kucharz (cook)jestem kucharzem (I am a chef)
studentka ((I am) studentką)jestem studentką (I am a student)
policjantka (policewoman)jestem policjantką (I am a police officer)
dentysta (dentist)jestem dentystą (I am a dentist)

Exceptions!

  1. Masculine nouns ending in -a (e.g. kolega, dentysta) are declined like feminine nouns and take the ending -ą, e.g. kolegą, dentystą.

Exercise 1: Rzeczowniki w narzędniku: kim? czym?

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

policjantem, dentystą, kierowcą, kelnerką, dziennikarką, prawnikiem, fryzjerem, lekarzem

1. Lekarz:
Jestem ....
(Jestem lekarzem.)
2. Dentysta:
Jestem ....
(Jestem dentystą.)
3. Policjant:
Jestem ....
(Jestem policjantem.)
4. Prawnik:
Jestem ....
(Jestem prawnikiem.)
5. Dziennikarka:
Jestem ....
(Jestem dziennikarką.)
6. Kierowca:
Jestem ....
(Jestem kierowcą.)
7. Fryzjer:
Jestem ....
(Jestem fryzjerem.)
8. Kelnerka:
Jestem ....
(Jestem kelnerką.)

Exercise 2: Dialogue completion

Instruction: Complete the dialogue with the correct solution

1. Marta: Jestem ______ matematyki w liceum.

(Marta: I am a ______ high school math teacher.)

2. Adam: A ja jestem ______ w szpitalu miejskim.

(Adam: And I am a ______ at the city hospital.)

3. Marta: Czy twoja siostra jest ______?

(Marta: Is your sister a ______?)

4. Adam: Nie, ona jest ______ i pracuje w kancelarii.

(Adam: No, she is a ______ and works at a law firm.)

5. Marta: Często rozmawiam z moją koleżanką, która jest ______ w kawiarni.

(Marta: I often talk with my friend who is a ______ at a café.)

6. Adam: Ja znam pana Kowalskiego, on jest ______ w dużej firmie.

(Adam: I know Mr. Kowalski; he is a ______ at a large company.)

Understanding the Instrumental Case in Polish: "kim? czym?"

This lesson focuses on the Polish instrumental case (narzędnik), which answers the questions "kim?" (with whom?) and "czym?" (with what?). It is an essential case used to describe professions, nationalities, relationships, and the means by which actions are performed.

When to Use the Instrumental Case

  • To say who someone is by profession: Jestem nauczycielem (I am a teacher).
  • To indicate nationality: On jest Hiszpanem (He is Spanish).
  • To describe how an action is done, for example by what instrument or means: Piszę długopisem (I write with a pen).
  • To show movement or travel by means of transportation: Jadę samochodem (I am going by car).
  • After the preposition z (with), as in z kolegą (with a colleague), z psem (with a dog).

Important Highlights and Noun Forms

The instrumental case in Polish has specific endings depending on gender and noun type:

  • Masculine nouns usually change their ending. For example, nauczyciel becomes nauczycielem.
  • Feminine nouns often take the ending -ą, e.g., kelnerka becomes kelnerką.
  • Some masculine nouns ending in -a (like kolega, dentysta) are declined like feminine nouns, also adopting the -ą ending (e.g., kolegą, dentystą).

Examples of Instrumental Case Usage

Mianownik (Nominative) kto? co? Narzędnik (Instrumental) z kim? z czym?
nauczycieljestem nauczycielem
kelnerkajestem kelnerką
lekarzjestem lekarzem
kucharzjestem kucharzem
studentkajestem studentką
policjantkajestem policjantką
dentystajestem dentystą

Notes on the Differences Between English and Polish

Unlike English, which uses prepositions like "with" and simple verb forms to express instrumental meaning, Polish uses a specific case ending to show the

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Joanna Majchrowska

Master of Spanish Philology

University of Lodz

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Poland


Last Updated:

Wednesday, 03/12/2025 21:18