Everyday services
Usługi codzienne
- Describe the location of services on a map.
- Ask for the opening hours of a certain service.
Learn key Polish vocabulary for everyday services like apteka (pharmacy), bank, and sklep spożywczy (grocery store), while mastering expressions to ask about locations and opening hours such as otwiera się (opens) and zamyka się (closes). This lesson helps you confidently navigate essential places and inquire about their availability in daily life.
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Assign the following words to the appropriate category related to daily services.
Miejsca usług (lokacje)
Godziny otwarcia usług
Ćwiczenie 4: Conversation exercise
Instrukcja:
- Co zrobiła dziś Eva? Gdzie przeszła? (What did Eva do today? Where did she pass by?)
- Gdzie dzisiaj byłeś? (Where have you been today? )
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Eva poszła dziś rano na siłownię. Eva has gone to the gym this morning. |
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Później poszła do piekarni, żeby kupić coś do jedzenia. Afterwards she has passed by the bakery to buy some food. |
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Ona przeszła obok banku wieczorem. She has passed by the bank in the evening. |
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Dzisiaj poszedłem do szpitala, ponieważ pracuję tam jako lekarz. I have gone to the hospital today because I work there as a doctor. |
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Byłem w szkole dzisiaj rano z powodu moich dzieci. I have been to the school this morning because of my children. |
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Dziś poszedłem na uniwersytet i do biblioteki. I have gone to the university and the library today. |
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Exercise 5: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 6: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Gdzie ____ najbliższy bank?
(Where ____ the nearest bank?)2. Bank ____ obok poczty, po prawej stronie.
(The bank ____ next to the post office, on the right side.)3. Czy wiesz, o której godzinie ____ poczta?
(Do you know what time ____ the post office?)4. Poczta ____ o godzinie dziewiątej.
(The post office ____ at nine o'clock.)Exercise 7: Searching for services in the city
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Iść - To go
Czas teraźniejszy
- ja idę
- ty idziesz
- on/ona/ono idzie
- my idziemy
- wy idziecie
- oni/one idą
Otwierać - To open
Czas teraźniejszy
- ja otwieram
- ty otwierasz
- on/ona/ono otwiera
- my otwieramy
- wy otwieracie
- oni/one otwierają
Zamykać - To close
Czas teraźniejszy
- ja zamykam
- ty zamykasz
- on/ona/ono zamyka
- my zamykamy
- wy zamykacie
- oni/one zamykają
Kupować - To buy
Czas teraźniejszy
- ja kupuję
- ty kupujesz
- on/ona/ono kupuje
- my kupujemy
- wy kupujecie
- oni/one kupują
Pytać - To ask
Czas teraźniejszy
- ja pytam
- ty pytasz
- on/ona/ono pyta
- my pytamy
- wy pytacie
- oni/one pytają
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Everyday Services in Polish: A Beginner's Guide
This lesson introduces you to essential vocabulary and phrases related to everyday services in Polish. You'll learn how to ask and understand where common service locations are, such as pharmacies, banks, post offices, and grocery stores, as well as inquire about their opening hours. The focus is on practical language skills to help you navigate daily life in a Polish-speaking environment.
Key Vocabulary: Places and Hours
Familiarize yourself with these important words linked to daily services:
- Places: apteka (pharmacy), poczta (post office), bank (bank), sklep spożywczy (grocery store), kawiarnia (cafe), biblioteka (library)
- Opening Hours Terms: otwarte (open), zamknięte (closed), czynne (in operation), weekend (weekend)
Useful Expressions and Questions
Practice common questions to get directions or inquire about service hours, such as:
- Gdzie jest najbliższy bank na tej mapie? (Where is the nearest bank on this map?)
- Czy możesz mi powiedzieć, o której godzinie otwiera się apteka? (Can you tell me what time the pharmacy opens?)
- Sklep spożywczy znajduje się naprzeciwko kościoła. (The grocery store is located opposite the church.)
- Jak długo biblioteka jest otwarta w weekendy? (How long is the library open on weekends?)
Common Verbs and Conjugations
The lesson also highlights frequent verbs used when discussing locations and opening hours. Example verbs include iść (to go), otwierać się (to open), zamykąć (to close), kupić (to buy), and pytać (to ask). Understanding present tense conjugations will help you communicate effectively:
- ja idę (I go), ty idziesz (you go), on/ona idzie (he/she goes)
- ja otwieram, ty otwierasz, on/ona otwiera (I/you/he/she opens)
- ja zamykam, ty zamykasz, on/ona zamyka (I/you/he/she closes)
Language Differences: English vs. Polish
In Polish, sentence structure can differ from English, especially the position of verbs and questions. For example, the verb jest (is) is often key in simple location questions like Gdzie jest bank? meaning "Where is the bank?" Unlike English, Polish uses verb forms such as otwiera się (the store opens itself) with a reflexive pronoun to express that a place opens at a certain time. Direct equivalents to English verbs sometimes include reflexive forms in Polish, which can be new to learners. Familiarity with these will improve your comprehension and speaking skills significantly.
Practical Phrases to Know
- Czy bank jest blisko ronda na naszym osiedlu? - Is the bank close to the roundabout in our neighborhood?
- Sklep spożywczy jest otwarty codziennie do godziny 20. - The grocery store is open every day until 8 p.m.
- O której zamykają urząd miasta w sobotę? - What time does the city office close on Saturday?
This guide provides foundational language skills and phrases necessary for everyday interactions related to services you will frequently need. Use it alongside your course materials to build confidence navigating Polish service locations and schedules.
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