-uję / -ujesz

The -Uję, -Ujesz Pattern

Level 2

Verbs ending in -ować (like pracować) and many ending in -ywać/-iwać (like zapisywać) follow a specific rule: drop the suffix and replace it with -uj- before adding the -ę, -esz endings.

How It Works

The -uję, -ujesz pattern belongs to the first conjugation group (Conjugation 1). It is triggered by specific infinitive endings:

  • -ować verbs: The most frequent group. To conjugate, remove -owa- and add -uj- + endings.
    Example: pracować → pracuję; kupować → kupuję.
  • -ywać / -iwać verbs: These are often secondary imperfectives. Remove -ywa-/-iwa- and add -uj- + endings.
    Example: pokazywać → pokazuję; zapisywać → zapisuję.
    Note: Frequentative verbs like bywać or pisywać are exceptions and follow the -am, -asz pattern.
  • -uć verbs: Short verbs like psuć (to spoil) or pluć (to spit) add a -j- to the stem: psuję, psujesz.

The Conjugation Table (Example: pracować):

  • Ja pracuję
  • Ty pracujesz
  • On/Ona/Ono pracuje
  • My pracujemy
  • Wy pracujecie
  • Oni/One pracują

Note: While most -ować verbs are imperfective (present tense), some are perfective (future tense), such as podarować (to give as a gift) → podaruję (I will give as a gift).

Examples (5)

  1. Stale pracuję w tym biurze.

    I work in this office constantly.

    Word by Word: Constantly I-work in this office.

    The verb 'pracować' drops '-ować' and adds '-uję' for the first person singular.

  2. Czy często kupujesz owoce na targu?

    Do you often buy fruit at the market?

    Word by Word: Whether often you-buy fruits on market?

    The verb 'kupować' becomes 'kupujesz' in the second person singular (ty).

  3. Obiecuję, że jutro do ciebie zadzwonię.

    I promise that I will call you tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I-promise, that tomorrow to you I-will-call.

    The verb 'obiecywać' (to promise) follows the -ywać → -uję pattern.

  4. Oni rzadko podróżują pociągiem.

    They rarely travel by train.

    Word by Word: They rarely travel train-by.

    The verb 'podróżować' (to travel) uses the third person plural ending '-ują'.

  5. Dlaczego psujesz mój telefon?

    Why are you spoiling (breaking) my phone?

    Word by Word: Why you-spoil my phone?

    The short verb 'psuć' adds '-j-' to the stem to follow this pattern.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the '-ow-' syllable in the conjugated form (e.g., 'kupowuję').

    Ja kupowuję chleb.
    Ja kupuję chleb.

    You must drop the entire '-owa-' suffix before adding '-uj-'. Adding endings directly to the infinitive stem is a common beginner error.

  • Conjugating -ować verbs like -ać verbs (e.g., 'pracowam').

    Ja pracowam dzisiaj.
    Ja pracuję dzisiaj.

    Unlike simple '-ać' verbs (like 'czytać' → 'czytam'), '-ować' verbs MUST shift to the '-uję' pattern.

  • Confusing -ować with -awać verbs.

    Ja dawuję prezent.
    Ja daję prezent.

    Verbs ending in '-awać' (like 'dawać' - to give) drop the '-wa-' and use '-aję', not '-uję'.

How It Connects

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

-uję / -ujeszLevel 2The -Uję, -Ujesz Pattern

Learn This First

Learn Present Tense before The -Uję, -Ujesz Pattern.