B1 Polish GrammarSubjunctive II (Konjunktiv II)
Master Polish conditional mood for expressing hypothetical situations, wishes, and polite requests. Learn to form and use the tryb warunkowy, understand gdyby-clauses, and express politeness in Polish conversation.
1Forming the Conditional Mood
Polish conditional (tryb warunkowy) is formed by adding the particle '-by' to the past tense form: robi艂bym, robi艂aby艣. The particle can attach to the verb or float in the sentence. Personal endings come from 'by膰': -m, -艣, -, -艣my, -艣cie, -.
Conditional Formation
| Person | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| ja | robi艂bym | robi艂abym |
| ty | robi艂by艣 | robi艂aby艣 |
| on/ona | robi艂by | robi艂aby |
| my | robiliby艣my | robi艂yby艣my |
Examples
Chcia艂bym kaw臋.
I would like coffee.
polite request
Czy m贸g艂by艣 mi pom贸c?
Could you help me?
polite question
To by艂oby mi艂e.
That would be nice.
hypothetical
Ch臋tnie bym przyszed艂.
I would gladly come.
floating -by
2Conditional Sentences (Gdyby-Clauses)
Polish conditional sentences use 'gdyby' (if) for hypothetical conditions. Both clauses typically use conditional forms. For past unreal, use 'gdyby' + past conditional. Word order is flexible due to Polish case system.
Conditional Patterns
| Type | Gdyby-Clause | Main Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Real | je艣li/je偶eli + present | present/future |
| Unreal present | gdyby + conditional | conditional |
| Unreal past | gdyby + past conditional | past conditional |
Examples
Gdybym by艂 bogaty, podr贸偶owa艂bym.
If I were rich, I would travel.
hypothetical present
Gdybym wiedzia艂, pom贸g艂bym.
If I had known, I would have helped.
unreal past
Gdyby przysz艂a, byliby艣my szcz臋艣liwi.
If she came, we would be happy.
unreal present
Co by艣 zrobi艂, gdyby艣 wygra艂?
What would you do if you won?
hypothetical question
3Past Conditional
The past conditional expresses what would have happened. It's identical in form to the regular conditional but context makes it past. Add 'by艂' before the main conditional for emphasis: by艂 bym zrobi艂. Use for regrets and unfulfilled possibilities.
Past Conditional Forms
| Regular | Emphatic Past | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| zrobi艂bym | by艂 bym zrobi艂 | I would have done |
| przyszed艂bym | by艂 bym przyszed艂 | I would have come |
| wiedzia艂bym | by艂 bym wiedzia艂 | I would have known |
Examples
Chcia艂bym ci臋 zobaczy膰.
I would have liked to see you.
unfulfilled wish
Przysz艂aby, gdyby mog艂a.
She would have come if she could.
past conditional
Powinni艣my byli wyj艣膰 wcze艣niej.
We should have left earlier.
powinien + past
Nigdy by tego nie zrobi艂.
He would never have done it.
negative conditional
4Polite Expressions and Wishes
The conditional is essential for politeness in Polish. Use it with 'chcie膰' (want), 'm贸c' (can), 'prosi膰' (ask). 'Oby' or '偶eby' express wishes. Polish conditional is more formal than imperative for requests.
Polite Forms
| Direct | Polite | English |
|---|---|---|
| Chc臋... | Chcia艂bym... | I would like... |
| Mo偶esz...? | M贸g艂by艣...? | Could you...? |
| Musisz... | Powiniene艣... | You should... |
| Daj mi... | Czy m贸g艂by艣 mi da膰...? | Could you give me...? |
Examples
Czy m贸g艂by Pan powt贸rzy膰?
Could you repeat, sir?
formal polite request
Chcia艂bym zarezerwowa膰 stolik.
I would like to book a table.
polite wish
Powiniene艣 zadzwoni膰 do mamy.
You should call your mother.
polite advice
Oby tak by艂o!
If only it were so!
wish with oby