że

Clauses with Że

Level 2

The conjunction że is the primary way to connect a main verb (like 'I know' or 'she said') to a factual statement. It is the Polish equivalent of the English word 'that' in sentences like 'I know that you are here.'

How It Works

The że complement clause is a fundamental building block of Polish syntax. It is used to embed a full sentence as the object of another verb.

1. When to use it:
It follows verbs of:

  • Saying: mówić (to say), opowiadać (to tell).
  • Thinking/Belief: myśleć (to think), sądzić (to judge/think).
  • Knowledge: wiedzieć (to know).
  • Perception: widzieć (to see), słyszeć (to hear).

2. The Comma Rule:
In Polish, you usually place a comma before że. However, if że is part of a compound conjunction like mimo że (although), dlatego że (because), or chyba że (unless), the comma moves to the front of the entire phrase.

3. Correlatives (to, że):
In Polish, a preposition cannot directly touch the word że. If a verb requires a specific preposition (like liczyć na - to count on), you must use the pronoun to in the correct case as a placeholder. For example: Liczę na to, że... (I count on [the fact] that...). Common forms include z tego, że or o tym, że.

4. że vs. żeby:
It is vital to distinguish between że and żeby. Use że for facts and existing states using standard present or past indicative forms. Use żeby for wishes or goals.

5. Negation and Doubt:
When you negate verbs of thinking (e.g., nie sądzę), the conjunction often shifts from że to żeby or czy to reflect uncertainty.

6. Formal Variant:
In very formal writing, you might see iż. It functions exactly like że but is almost never used in spoken Polish.

Examples (6)

  1. Wiem, że masz rację.

    I know that you are right.

    Word by Word: I know, that you have right.

    A classic use of 'że' after the verb 'wiedzieć' (to know) to report a fact.

  2. Powiedziała mi, że nie może przyjść.

    She told me that she cannot come.

    Word by Word: She told me, that not she can to come.

    Used here to report speech after the verb 'powiedzieć' (to say/tell).

  3. Myślę, że to jest dobry pomysł.

    I think that this is a good idea.

    Word by Word: I think, that this is good idea.

    Used after 'myśleć' (to think) to express an opinion or belief.

  4. Cieszę się z tego, że przyszłaś.

    I am happy that you came.

    Word by Word: I enjoy myself from this, that you came.

    Demonstrates a correlative: because 'cieszyć się' requires the preposition 'z', the pronoun 'tego' (genitive of 'to') must be used before 'że'.

  5. Liczę na to, że mi pomożesz.

    I am counting on you helping me.

    Word by Word: I count on this, that to me you will help.

    The verb 'liczyć na' requires the accusative, so the correlative 'to' is used to bridge the preposition and the clause.

  6. Słyszałem, że on kupił nowy samochód.

    I heard that he bought a new car.

    Word by Word: I heard, that he bought new car.

    Used after a verb of perception ('słyszeć') to report information received.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the conjunction 'że'.

    Myślę, to jest ważne.
    Myślę, że to jest ważne.

    In English, you can say 'I think it's important.' In Polish, you cannot drop 'że'. It must be included to connect the two clauses.

  • Misplacing the comma in compound conjunctions.

    Mimo, że pada, idę na spacer.
    Mimo że pada, idę na spacer.

    While 'że' usually takes a comma, in 'mimo że' (although) the comma goes before the whole phrase, not before 'że'.

  • Using 'że' when 'żeby' would stress doubt.

    Different MeaningNie sądzę, że on ma rację.
    Nie sądzę, żeby on miał rację.

    Nie sądzę, że on ma rację is correct and common. After a negated 'sądzić' or 'myśleć', Polish can also use 'żeby' with the past form, which stresses doubt or uncertainty: Nie sądzę, żeby on miał rację.

How It Connects

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