Adverbs

As in English, adverbs in Polish can modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs do not decline in Polish and are often distinguished by the ending -o or -e/-ie, although some adverbs are formed differently. Note also that Polish past participles also have ending -o, for instance, mówiono (was talked), pisano (was written). Some adverbs are formed by removing the adjectival ending from an adjective and replacing it with the adverbial ending.

stary > star + o > staro (old)

głośny > głośn + o > głośno (loudly)

ładny > ładn + ie > ładnie (nicely)

dobry > dobr + ze > dobrze (well)

zły > zł+ e > złe (badly)

Adverb is the most versatile word class in all languages, including Polish, and therefore it received a nickname - dustbin word class. For instance, commonly regarded as adverbs are such words as: jutro (tomorrow), kiedy (when), nie (no), wlasnie (just). Adverbs can modify verbs and also can modify the entire sentence.

Below are examples of some types of adverbs not derived from adjectives:

Interrogative adverbs, such as jak (how), gdzie (where), dlaczego (why)

Adverbs of intensity or frequency, such as bardzo (very), jeszcze (still), ju ż (already)

Adverbs denoting space: na dworze (outside)

Adverbs denoting time: jutro (tomorrow), wczoraj (yesterday)