-ę / -isz

The -Ę, -Isz Pattern

Level 2

The -ę, -isz pattern (the -ę/-isz or -ę/-ysz group) is used for many essential verbs like robić (to do) and mówić (to speak). It features a characteristic 'i' or 'y' in most endings, but often changes the stem consonant in the first person singular (ja) and third person plural (oni/one).

How It Works

Learn two present stems rather than treating the infinitive as a mechanical cut-and-paste base. The middle four forms have -i-/-y-, as in prosisz, prosi, prosimy, prosicie. The ja and oni/one forms share an alternating stem: proszę, proszą. The endings are:

  • ja: -ę
  • ty: -isz / -ysz
  • on/ona/ono: -i / -y
  • my: -imy / -ymy
  • wy: -icie / -ycie
  • oni/one: -ą

The -isz vs. -ysz Rule:
Use -isz after soft consonants, labials (like m, b, p, w, f), and l. Note that for verbs like dzwonić, the stem ends in a soft 'ń' sound, which is spelled as 'ni' before vowels. Use -ysz after historically hard consonants: sz, ż, cz, rz, dż. For example, uczyć (to teach) becomes uczysz.

Labials and 'ni' in ja/oni forms:
For stems ending in labials or a soft 'ń' sound, an i is retained before the -ę and -ą endings in the ja and oni/one forms to maintain the soft consonant (e.g., robić → robię, robią; dzwonić → dzwonię, dzwonią).

Spelling Changes:
In the ja and oni/one forms, other stem-final consonants often 'harden' or change spelling:

  • ci → c: płacić (to pay) → płacę, płacą
  • dzi → dz: widzieć (to see) → widzę, widzą
  • si → sz: prosić (to ask) → proszę, proszą
  • zi → ż: mrozić (to freeze) → mrożę, mrożą
  • ści → szcz: czyścić (to clean) → czyszczę, czyszczą
  • ździ → żdż: jeździć (to drive/ride) → jeżdżę, jeżdżą

This pattern is used for the present tense of imperfective verbs and the future tense of perfective verbs.

Read the Spelling Changes From a Full Form: The arrows ci→c, si→sz and the others above compare the visible sequence in the infinitive or middle present forms with ja/oni. For płacić, compare płacisz with płacę/płacą; for prosić, compare prosisz with proszę/proszą. These are stem alternations, not instructions to delete i twice. Keep a model such as robię, robisz or proszę, prosisz with each new verb.

Examples (5)

  1. On bardzo dobrze mówi po polsku.

    He speaks Polish very well.

    Word by Word: He very well speaks after Polish.

    The verb 'mówić' (to speak) follows the standard -isz pattern: mówi.

  2. Co robisz dzisiaj wieczorem?

    What are you doing tonight?

    Word by Word: What do-you-do today evening?

    The verb 'robić' (to do/make) uses the -isz ending for the 'ty' (you) form.

  3. Książka leży na stole.

    The book is lying on the table.

    Word by Word: Book lies on table.

    The verb 'leżeć' (to lie) uses -y instead of -i because it follows the 'ż' consonant.

  4. Widzę cię!

    I see you!

    Word by Word: I-see you!

    The verb 'widzieć' (to see) shows the dź → dz mutation in the 'ja' form (widzę).

  5. Oni uczą się polskiego.

    They are learning Polish.

    Word by Word: They teach themselves Polish.

    The verb 'uczyć się' (to learn) uses the -ą ending for 'oni' (they).

Common Mistakes

  • Using -isz after hard consonants like 'cz' or 'sz'.

    Ty uczisz się.
    Ty uczysz się.

    After 'sz, ż, cz, rz', the 'i' must change to 'y' to match Polish phonetics. Note that verbs with 'ci' and 'dzi' in the infinitive (like 'płacić' or 'radzić') keep their soft sound before 'i' in the 'ty' form, and only change spelling to hard 'c' and 'dz' in the 'ja' and 'oni/one' forms.

  • Forgetting the consonant mutation in the 'ja' form.

    Ja widzię.
    Ja widzę.

    Learners often try to keep the 'i' from the infinitive, but 'widzieć' must change the spelling from 'dzi' to 'dz' in the first person singular.

  • Applying this pattern to monosyllabic -ić verbs like 'pić'.

    Ja piszę kawę.
    Ja piję kawę.

    Short verbs like 'pić' (to drink) or 'myć' (to wash) usually follow the -ę, -esz pattern, not this one. 'Piszę' actually means 'I am writing' (from pisać)!

How It Connects

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

-ę / -iszLevel 2The -Ę, -Isz Pattern

Learn This First

Learn Present Tense before The -Ę, -Isz Pattern.

Words in This Pattern

-ę