Bookish i
I has two jobs. Like aj, it adds "also, even" before a word: I ja som prišiel. Like a, it joins two words: ty i ja. It sounds more bookish or emphatic than aj and a.
How It Works
I = aj (also, even). Like aj, i stands before the word it adds or stresses: I ja som prišiel. (I came too.) Poznajú ho i v zahraničí. (He is known even abroad.)
I = a (and). Like a, i can join two words, often with a slightly elevated or emphatic tone: ty i ja (you and I), užitočné i zábavné (useful and fun). A fixed phrase is dňom i nocou (day and night).
In pairs and phrases.
- i ..., i means both ... and, with a comma before the second i: i susedov, i kolegov
- tak ..., ako i means as well as: tak deti, ako i dospelí
- i keď means even though, like aj keď
Style. Aj and a are the everyday words. I gives a text a bookish or emphatic tone and is common in writing, songs and set phrases.
Examples (6)
- Pracovali dňom i nocou.
They worked day and night.
Word by Word: They-worked by-day and by-night.
- I ja som bol kedysi mladý.
I, too, was young once.
Word by Word: Also I am was once young.
- Je to užitočné i zábavné.
It is useful and fun.
Word by Word: Is it useful and fun.
- Poznajú ho i v zahraničí.
He is known even abroad.
Word by Word: They-know him even in abroad.
- Pomáhali tak deti, ako i dospelí.
Children as well as adults helped.
Word by Word: Helped so children, as also adults.
- Pozvali sme i susedov, i kolegov.
We invited both the neighbors and our colleagues.
Word by Word: We-invited both neighbors, and colleagues.
In the pair i ..., i a comma goes before the second i.
Common Mistakes
Putting i after the word it stresses, as in English "me too".
Ja i.I ja.Like aj, i stands before the word it stresses: I ja. or Aj ja. (Me too.)
Using the order ako ..., tak i.
Pomáhali ako deti, tak i dospelí.Pomáhali tak deti, ako i dospelí.Slovak language guides list ako ..., tak i as an error. The standard order is tak ..., ako i (or ako aj).
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Bookish i, learn Also, Too and Not Even. Bookish i is used like aj.
Related Patterns
- a / ale / aleboAnd, But and or
A is the everyday word for "and"; i is its bookish alternative.
Level 1 - aj keď / i keďEven Though
I keď is the bookish form of aj keď (even though).
Level 4 - nielen ... ale ajNot Only ... but Also
Another pair that adds a second item with emphasis; ale i also occurs.
Level 4 - tak ... ako / taký ... akoAs ... as
The pair tak ..., ako i builds on the same tak ... ako frame.
Level 3 - ani ... aniNeither ... nor
The negative counterpart of the pair i ..., i.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice Bookish i in Bubblegum
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