nie ma + Genitive

Nie Ma with the Genitive

Level 1

In Polish, to say something doesn't exist or someone is absent, we use the fixed phrase nie ma + Genitive Case.

How It Works

The construction nie ma is essential for expressing absence or non-existence. It follows three specific rules:

1. The Asymmetry Rule
In Polish, affirmative existence uses the Nominative, but negative existence switches to the Genitive:
• Affirmative: Kawa (Nom.) jest. (Coffee is here.)
• Negative: Kawy (Gen.) nie ma. (There is no coffee.)
Note that while the affirmative changes in the plural (Są bilety), the negative stays 'frozen' as nie ma (Nie ma biletów).

2. Past and Future Tenses
This 'frozen' pattern continues in other tenses. The verb remains in the singular neuter (past) or third-person singular (future), and the noun stays in the Genitive:
• Past: Nie było (Past) wody. (There was no water.)
• Future: Nie będzie (Future) problemu. (There won't be a problem.)

3. Personal Pronouns
When saying a person is not present, you must use their Genitive form:
• Ja (I) becomes: Nie ma mnie w domu. (I am not at home.)
• Ty (You) becomes: Nie ma cię tutaj. (You are not here.)
• On (He) becomes: Nie ma go dzisiaj. (He is not here today.)

Examples (4)

  1. Nie ma chleba.

    There is no bread.

    Word by Word: Not has bread [genitive].

    Chleb (bread) changes to chleba because of the 'nie ma' construction.

  2. Nie ma go w domu.

    He is not at home.

    Word by Word: Not has him [genitive] in home.

    When saying someone is absent, we use 'nie ma' and the genitive pronoun 'go'.

  3. Nie ma żadnych pytań.

    There are no questions.

    Word by Word: Not has any questions [genitive plural].

    Notice that 'ma' remains singular even though 'pytania' (questions) is plural.

  4. Przepraszam, nie ma już kawy.

    I'm sorry, there is no more coffee.

    Word by Word: Sorry, not has already coffee [genitive].

    A common phrase used in shops or restaurants.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Nominative case instead of the Genitive.

    Nie ma kawa.
    Nie ma kawy.

    After 'nie ma', you must use the genitive case (kawy), not the basic subject form (kawa).

  • Trying to make the verb plural for plural objects.

    Nie mają kluczy.
    Nie ma kluczy.

    In the sense of 'there are no', the verb is frozen as 'ma'. 'Nie mają' would mean 'They (people) do not have'.

  • Using 'nie jest' where 'nie ma' states absence.

    Different MeaningOn nie jest tutaj.
    Nie ma go tutaj.

    On nie jest tutaj is grammatical, for example when you contrast places ('he is not here, he is there'). The usual way to say someone is absent is 'nie ma' + genitive: Nie ma go tutaj.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

nie ma + GenitiveLevel 1Nie Ma with the Genitive

Learn This First

Learn Negation With Nie before Nie Ma With The Genitive.

Words in This Pattern

nie ma