Learn the key pattern to ask for clarification
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| Let's take a closer look at the conversation. |
| Do you remember how Damian introduces himself? |
| "Nice to meet you. I'm Damian." |
| Miło mi, jestem Damian. |
| First is miło mi, literally, "Pleases me," but translates as “Nice to meet you." Miło mi. Miło mi. |
| This expression can be used in many contexts and is appropriate for both formal and informal situations. |
| Next is Jestem Damian, "I’m Damian." |
| First is jestem, "[I] am." Jestem. Jestem. |
| Note, here jestem is a shortened form of ja jestem, "I am." In Polish, ja, “I,” is usually omitted. |
| Jestem is from the verb, być, "to be." Być. |
| Next is the name, Damian. Damian. Damian. |
| Note: Damian only uses his given name. Sasha and Damian are young adults in an informal situation, so he only uses his given name. |
| Together, it’s Jestem Damian, "I'm Damian." Jestem Damian. |
| All together, it’s Miło mi, jestem Damian. "Nice to meet you. I'm Damian." |
| Miło mi, jestem Damian. |
| Sasha can’t catch his name. |
| Do you remember how she asks, |
| "Excuse me. Can you repeat that?” |
| Przepraszam, czy możesz powtórzyć? |
| First is Przepraszam, "Excuse me." Przepraszam. Przepraszam. |
| Next is czy, something like "whether," as in “whether you can repeat that,” in this context. Czy. Czy. |
| Note: there is no corresponding English translation here. |
| Next is możesz, "[you] can," as in you are able. Możesz. Możesz. |
| Note: "you" is understood from the context. |
| Możesz is from the verb, móc, "to be able." Móc. |
| Next is powtórzyć, "repeat." Powtórzyć. Powtórzyć. |
| Powtórzyć is a verb, meaning “to repeat,” in its infinitive form. |
| Together, czy możesz powtórzyć? literally means, "whether [you] can repeat," but translates as, "can [you] repeat [that]?" Czy możesz powtórzyć? |
| All together, Przepraszam, czy możesz powtórzyć? "Excuse me, can you repeat [that]?" |
| Przepraszam, czy możesz powtórzyć? |
| Note: [that] is added to the translation so that the English sounds more natural, but there is no corresponding word in the Polish question. |
| Finally, do you remember how Damian says, |
| “I’m Damian.” |
| Hint, you’ve heard it before. |
| Jestem Damian. "I’m Damian." |
| Jestem Damian. |
| In this lesson, you learned how to ask for clarification in an informal situation: |
| Przepraszam, czy możesz powtórzyć? |
| “Excuse me, can [you] repeat [that]?” |
| To ask for clarification in a formal situation: |
| When addressing a man, |
| Przepraszam, czy może pan powtórzyć? |
| Możesz, “you can,” is replaced with może pan, literally, “Mr. can,” but translates as “you can,” when addressing a man. Może pan. |
| When addressing a woman, |
| Przepraszam, czy może pani powtórzyć? |
| Możesz, “you can,” is replaced with może pani, literally, “Mrs. can,” but translates as “you can,” when addressing a woman. Może pani. |
| Remember these phrases, you’ll need them later in the lesson. |
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