I can help because ...

Expressing that you are able to to something is a key part of any language. 'To be able to' is one of the most commonly used verbs in Polish so let's dive into it.

First let's pick up a new verb

to help - pomóc

Again we will use the to form like this:

I can to help

So let's get 'I can'

I can - Mogę

So how would you say:

I can help -
Can I help? -
I think that I can help -
I can't help -
I think that I can't help -

Because.

because - bo

Beautifully simple! So how would you say the following.

I can help because I have time -
I can't help because I don't have time -
I think that I can't help because I don't have time -

Remember to break the sentences down into chunks, say the part and then move onto the next part - I think that | I can't help | because | I don't have time.

In written Polish there is always a comma before 'bo' like this:

He can help because he knows - On może pomóc, bo wie

Note that we say 'bo wie', not 'bo on wie'. Once we have established who we are talking about (i.e. 'he'/'on') in the sentence there is no need to repeat it.

Now we have the 'he form' of the verb we can think out the other forms with rules we learnt in previous lessons. How would you say:

You (informal) can -
We can -

So how would you say:

You can help because you have time -
We can't help because we don't have time -

Go slow!

The exercises for this lesson will take time. You may need to check your notes or scroll up to the lesson learning points several times.

This is normal.

By repeating the learning points using these interactive exercises over several days you will become faster and the knowledge will embed better in your long term memory.

Must or Can?

Sort these verbs into 'must' and 'can'

Drag and drop all the dark blue boxes to their correct locations

Make sure your sound is turned on to hear the audio during this exercise

Think out the Polish

Practice the 'to' form of verbs with these handy phrases. Remember when to get 'bounced' into the Genetive case by 'do'.

Make sure your sound is turned on to hear the audio during this exercise

I can help	q3\|Mogę pomóc

Can I help?	q3\|Czy mogę pomóc?

Can you help?	q3\|Czy możesz pomóc?

I think that I can help	q3\|Myślę, że mogę pomóc

I think that I can't help	q3\|Myślę, że nie mogę pomóc

I think that I can't help because I don't have time

I can't help	q3\|Nie mogę pomóc

I can't help because I don't have time	q3\|Nie mogę pomóc, bo nie mam czasu

I can help because I have time	q3\|Mogę pomóc, bo mam czas

He can help because he knows	q3\|On może pomóc, bo wie

You can help because you have time	q3\|Możesz pomóc, bo masz czas

We can't help because we don't have time

Why can't you help?	q3\|Dlaczego nie możesz pomóc?

You can go to town	q3\|Możesz iść do miasta

She can have a new computer	q3\|Ona może mieć nowy komputer

Can she have a new computer?	q3\|Czy ona może mieć nowy komputer?

I can go to the supermarket but you must go to the chemist

Why can't you go to town?

Why can't she have a new smartphone?

He can help because he has a car	q3\|On może pomóc, bo ma samochód

We can help because we have a new laptop

You can't help because you don't have time

I can help but I don't want to	q3\|Mogę pomóc, ale nie chcę

She can go to the restaurant but you must help

I think he can help	q3\|Myślę, że on może pomóc

Do you think that she can help	q3\|Czy myślisz, że ona może pomóc?

Why do you think that she can help?

I must go because I can help	q3\|Muszę iść, bo mogę pomóc

We don't like jazz but we can help	q3\|Nie lubimy jazz, ale możemy pomóc

We think that he can help because he likes wine

I know that you can help	q3\|Wiem, że możesz pomóc

Do you know that you can help?	q3\|Czy wiesz, że możesz pomóc?

Do you think that she knows that she can help?

You know that I can help because I have time	q3\|Wiesz, że mogę pomóc, bo mam czas