Instrumental Singular Endings

Level 2

The Instrumental case (Narzędnik) answers the questions kim? czym? (with whom? with what?). It is used to talk about tools, professions, and after certain prepositions like z (with).

How It Works

The Instrumental case is a core building block of Polish. You will use it constantly in several main situations:

  • Tools and Means: Doing something with an object (no preposition used).
  • Identity & Becoming: Stating professions, nationalities, or relationships after the verbs być (to be) and zostać (to become).
  • Prepositions: After spatial words like pod (under), nad (above), przed (in front of), za (behind), and między (between) when naming where something is or moves, rather than its destination, as well as the preposition z (with/accompaniment). Note that z only takes the Instrumental when it means 'with'. When it means 'from/out of', it takes the Genitive case.
  • Specific Verbs: Some verbs strictly require the Instrumental case, such as interesować się (to be interested in).

How to form the singular endings:

1. Masculine & Neuter Nouns: For most masculine nouns ending in a consonant, add -em. After final ś, ć, ń, ź, dź, replace the acute-marked spelling with si, ci, ni, zi, dzi before the ending: gość → gościem, niedźwiedź → niedźwiedziem. For neuter nouns, replace the final -o or -e with -em.
Note: If the stem ends in -k or -g, use -iem instead to soften the sound (e.g., Polak → Polakiem; dziecko → dzieckiem).
Stem Changes: Watch out for common vowel changes in the stem when adding -em, such as the dropping of a mobile 'e' (e.g., pies → psem) or 'ó' changing to 'o' (e.g., stół → stołem).
Neuter Exceptions: Nouns ending in -um (like muzeum) do not change in the singular. Nouns ending in -ę (like imię) have a stem change (e.g., imieniem).

2. Feminine Nouns: Replace the final -a with -ą (e.g., kobieta → kobietą). The important noun pani also takes -ą (panią). For feminine nouns ending in a consonant, simply add -ą (e.g., noc → nocą). If the noun ends in a soft consonant with an acute accent (like -ć, -ś, -ń, -ź), the accent is dropped and replaced by an i before adding -ą (e.g., miłość → miłością).

3. Adjectives: Masculine and neuter adjectives take -ym (or -im after k, g, or soft consonants). Feminine adjectives take -ą.

4. Personal Pronouns: The singular pronouns in the Instrumental are mną (me), tobą (you), nim (him/it), and nią (her). Important: When saying 'with me', the preposition z changes to ze for easier pronunciation: ze mną.

5. Question Words: The interrogative pronouns kto (who) and co (what) change to kim and czym in the Instrumental. You will use these to ask questions like Kim jesteś? (Who are you?) or Czym piszesz? (What are you writing with?).

Important Exception: Masculine nouns that end in -a (like tata, mężczyzna, kolega) act like feminine nouns and take -ą, but their adjectives stay masculine! (e.g., dobrym tatą).

To build fluency in this case, remember to link it with predicate noun case and z + instrumental.

Examples (5)

  1. Piszę długopisem, a nie ołówkiem.

    I am writing with a pen, not with a pencil.

    Word by Word: I-write pen, and not pencil.

    Shows means/instrument. Notice there is no preposition used for 'with a pen'.

  2. Mój brat jest dobrym lekarzem.

    My brother is a good doctor.

    Word by Word: My brother is good doctor.

    Shows identity and profession after the verb 'być'. Both the adjective and noun take masculine Instrumental endings.

  3. Piję kawę z mlekiem.

    I am drinking coffee with milk.

    Word by Word: I-drink coffee with milk.

    Shows the preposition 'z' used for accompaniment or addition.

  4. On jest świetnym tatą.

    He is a great dad.

    Word by Word: He is great dad.

    Demonstrates the exception: 'tata' is a masculine noun ending in -a, so it takes the feminine noun ending -ą, but the adjective 'świetnym' remains masculine.

  5. Pies śpi pod stołem.

    The dog is sleeping under the table.

    Word by Word: Dog sleeps under table.

    Shows the Instrumental case required after the spatial preposition 'pod' (under).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the preposition 'z' for tools and instruments.

    Different MeaningPiszę z długopisem.
    Piszę długopisem.

    In Polish, 'z' implies companionship (doing something together). For tools and instruments, use the Instrumental case directly without any preposition.

  • Confusing the feminine Instrumental ending (-ą) with the Accusative ending (-ę).

    Rozmawiam z kobietę.
    Rozmawiam z kobietą.

    Feminine instrumental -ą differs from accusative -ę: z kobietą, but widzę kobietę. These spellings are distinct; their pronunciation cannot be reduced to a universal om/em rule.

  • Using the Instrumental case after 'to jest'.

    To jest moim bratem.
    To jest mój brat.

    When using the demonstrative pronoun 'to' (This is...), you must use the Nominative case. The Instrumental is only used for identity when a personal pronoun or noun is the subject (e.g., 'On jest moim bratem').

How It Connects

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Instrumental Singular EndingsLevel 2

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Learn Instrumental Case, Three Noun Genders before Instrumental Singular Endings.

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