What is the difference between Polish verbs móc i umieć

Polish

asked by
Ania Marysia published
about 3 years ago

What is the difference between verbs móc i umieć. Also, what is the difference between these two iść i chodzić?

1 answer

answered by
Pawel published
about 3 years ago

Hi Ania, sorry for late reply.

móc means to be able to in a sense that certain conditions are met, or we are allowed do to something. A few examples:

Ja mogę zostać na dworze do 8 wieczorem. I can stay outside till 8pm.

Możesz mi pożyczyć ołówka? Can you lend me a pencil?

umieć is used to inform about certain ability, skill or knowledge. For instance

On ma tylko 5 lat i już umie czytać. He is only 5 and can read already.

Umiesz pływać? Can you swim?

Regarding verbs chodzić oraz iść, it is more complicated. Chodzić (I think) it is aspekt niedokonany in Polish grammar, it describes a process of walking somewhere, a repeted action that can happen many times:

W każdą niedzielę chodzę do kościoła. I to to church every Sunday.

Iść indicates that the action is happening now or will happen in the near future (like present continuous tense in English):

Ja teraz idę do sklepu. I'm going to the shop.

Co robisz w sobotę? Idę na basen. Where are you doing on Saturday? I'm going to the swimming pool.

I hope this helps, please let me know Ania if you have any additional questions about Polish verbs.

What is the difference between Polish verbs móc i umieć

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