wolno + Infinitive

The expression wolno is used to discuss rules, laws, and social permissions. In this context, it is an impersonal predicative (a word that functions like a verb but doesn't change for person). Unlike można, which often refers to physical possibility, wolno specifically focuses on whether an authority or social norm allows an action.

1. Sentence Structure
The basic structure is: (Dative Subject) + wolno + Infinitive. When expressing general rules, public laws, or signs, the dative subject is usually omitted.

• Wolno mi wejść? (Am I allowed to enter?)
• Tu nie wolno palić. (Smoking is not allowed here — general rule.)
• Dzieciom nie wolno tu biegać. (Children are not allowed to run here.)

2. Tense and Mood Changes
Because wolno is impersonal, it uses the 3rd person singular forms of być to change tenses or mood:

• Past: wolno było (it was allowed) — uses the neuter form było.
• Future: wolno będzie (it will be allowed) — uses the standard 3rd person singular będzie.
• Conditional: wolno byłoby (it would be allowed) — uses the neuter conditional form.

3. Negation and Aspect
Adding nie creates a strong prohibition. Nie wolno is the standard way to say "must not" or "it is forbidden." When using nie wolno, the choice of verb aspect is important: the imperfective aspect is the default for prohibitions, even for single, deliberate actions (e.g., Nie wolno ci tego robić! - You must not do this!). Perfective can emphasize preventing a particular completed result; it is not confined to involuntary acts or extreme warnings (e.g., Nie wolno zabrudzić podłogi - You must not get the floor dirty).

4. The Homonym Trap
Be careful not to confuse this predicative with the adverb wolno meaning "slowly." Context is key: On mówi wolno (He speaks slowly) vs. Wolno mu mówić (He is allowed to speak).

5. Genitive of Negation
When wolno is negated (nie wolno), it triggers the Genitive of Negation. This means that if the following infinitive normally takes a direct object in the Accusative case, that object must change to the Genitive case.

• Wolno mi zjeść tę pizzę. (I am allowed to eat this pizza. - Accusative)
• Nie wolno mi zjeść tej pizzy. (I am not allowed to eat this pizza. - Genitive)

6. "Must Not" vs. "Don't Have To"
English speakers often confuse how to say "must not." In Polish, if you want to express a prohibition ("must not"), nie wolno is a clear way to express it. Do not use the negated verb musieć (to have to / must). Nie musisz means "you don't have to" (a lack of obligation, not a prohibition).

• Nie wolno ci tam iść. (You must not go there. - Prohibition)
• Nie musisz tam iść. (You don't have to go there. - Lack of obligation)

7. Standalone Usage
In everyday conversation, wolno and nie wolno are frequently used as standalone fragments. For example, you can point to an empty chair and simply ask, Wolno? (May I?). The response might be a simple Wolno (You may) or Nie wolno (It is forbidden).

Permission and Aspect: For permission to perform one bounded act, perfective is natural: Czy wolno mi otworzyć okno? (May I open the window?). Imperfective can ask about a general activity: Czy wolno tu parkować? (Is parking allowed here?). Można is also widely used to ask permission in conversation; wolno makes the question about rules or authorization more explicit and can sound stricter.

Other Cases Stay: Negation changes an accusative direct object to genitive, not every complement: Nie wolno mu pomagać przestępcom (He must not help criminals) retains dative przestępcom, and Nie wolno mi kierować samochodem (I am not allowed to drive a car) retains instrumental samochodem.