ONE OF THOSE LITTLE PROBLEMS WITH POLISH
When learning Polish we encounter a number of little grammar problems which do not prevent us from getting our message across when we speak, but which become annoying when we start to speak Polish more and more fluently. One of such little problems is the use of prepositions “NA” and “DO” with verbs of motion.
WHEN TO USE “DO” AND WHEN “NA”? THE POLISH LANGUAGE, HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY.
Exactly. Why do we say: jedziemy (or jeździmy, see the previous blog entry) DO Niemiec, Francji, USA, Szwecji (to Germany, France, the USA, Sweden), but NA Maltę, Ukrainę, Białoruś, Kretę (to Malta, Ukraine, Belarus, Crete)? As a rule, we use DO with names of countries. But most students of Polish immediately ask: >OK, so why do you say “jadę NA Ukrainę” then<? Good point. Unfortunately, it goes back to the time when these countries (now independent) used to be a part of other countries (not necessarily of Poland). Therefore, we say: jadę NA Cypr, NA Węgry, NA Litwę (I’m going to Cyprus, Hungary, Lithuania). Preposition NA is also used when referring to islands that have been a part of another country (jadę na Ibizę, NA Majorkę, NA Wyspy Kanaryjskie, Na Karaiby etc. – to Ibiza, Mallorca, Canary Islands, Caribbean) and regions (NA Mazury, NA Kaszuby, NA Warmię – to Masuria, Kashubia, Warmia).
DO WE SAY: JEDZIEMY NA CHORWACJĘ OR DO CHORWACJI?!
Does the above-mentioned rule apply to every case? Unfortunately, no. We do say: jadę DO Czech (the Czech Republic), but NA Słowację (Slovakia); jadę na Łotwę (Latvia), but jadę do Estonii (Estonia). And our Balkan friends? We use DO, always DO. Jedziecie w tym roku DO Chorwacji? :) (Are you going to Croatia this year?
maybe, instead of travel you want to take Polish course?
And one more thing: remember that about declination. JADĘ DO + gen. , JADĘ NA + acc. You can practise Polish declinations thanks to this app: Android, iOS, iPAD, Windows
