Welcome to the course!
This grammar explanation will be quite thorough, which is essential for understanding the Kashubian language, especially if you do not speak any Slavic language, as you might not easily grasp the logic behind certain grammatical structures otherwise.
However, if you are already familiar with a Slavic language and understand how to use the verb "to be," determine noun gender, and other fundamental concepts explained here, feel free to skip ahead.
Conjugation of 'bëc' (To Be)
The verb "to be" (bëc) is essential for talking about existence or identity. Its present tense forms are used to say "I am," "you are," "he is," etc., or to indicate where something is located.
Singular:
- Jô jãm (I am)
- Të jãsz (You are, singular informal)
- Òn/Òna/Òno je (He/She/It is)
Plural:
- Më jãmë (We are)
- Wë jãce (You are, plural or singular formal)
- Òni/Òne sã (They are)
Examples: Jô jãm sztudént (I am a student). Mòja sostra je dobrô (My sister is good). Më jãmë dobri kamraci (We are good friends). Òni sã tu (They are here).
How to Determine the Gender of a Word
Kashubian nouns belong to one of three genders: Masculine, Feminine, or Neuter. Knowing the gender is crucial because it affects the endings of adjectives and other words used with the noun. Generally, the gender is evident from the noun's ending in its basic form (nominative singular):
- Masculine: Most nouns ending in a consonant are masculine (e.g., dom - house, stół - table, ùczëcel - teacher).
- Feminine: Most nouns ending in -a or -ô are feminine (e.g., ** białka__ - woman, knéga - book, __zemia** - earth/land).
- Neuter: Most nouns ending in -o or -e are neuter (e.g., wòkno - window, pòle - field).
- Keep in mind: There are some exceptions to these rules, but they apply to the majority of words.
The Nominative Case: The Subject and Naming
The Nominative case is the basic form of a noun or adjective, primarily used for the subject of a sentence (who or what performs the action) or simply to name things. This is the form you will find words in dictionaries.
Nouns: Singular forms follow the gender rules described above. Plural forms vary based on gender.
- Masculine Examples: Sg: dom. Pl: domë.
- Feminine Examples: Sg: ** białka. Pl: ** białczi.
- Neuter Examples: Sg: wòkno. Pl: wòkna.
Adjectives: Agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Adjectives have different endings for hard and soft stems.
- Hard Stem Examples: Singular: dobri (m), dobrô (f), dobré (n). Plural: dobri (masculine personal), dobré (other genders/non-masculine personal).
- Soft Stem Examples: Singular: juńdżi (m), juńdżô (f), juńdzé (n). Plural: juńdżi (masculine personal), juńdzé (other genders/non-masculine personal).
Examples: Dobri dom je stôri (A good house is old). Juńdzé pòla sã zeléne (Other fields are green). Pòkné białczi gôdają (Beautiful women are speaking).
Demonstrative Pronouns (Nominative) and Why Use Them
Demonstrative pronouns help us specify particular nouns, similar to using "this" or "that" in English. In the Nominative case, they must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to. Using them helps to clarify exactly which item you mean from a group.
- Singular: tén (m), tô (f), to (n) - (this/that)
- Plural: ci (masculine personal), té (other genders/non-masculine personal) - (these/those)
- Examples: Tén dom je wiôldżi (This/That house is big). Tô knéga je mòja (This/That book is mine). To je najszé pòle (This/That is our field). Ci lëdze sã weseli (These/Those people are cheerful).