Deklinowanie

Deklinowanie, or deklinacja, is the process by which words change form to express grammatical categories such as case, number and, in many languages, gender. In Polish linguistics it refers to the inflection of nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and numerals, while verbs undergo a separate process called conjugation. Deklinowanie is central to sentence syntax because the endings indicate the word’s role, such as subject, object, or possession.

In Polish, there are seven cases: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, locative, and vocative. Each case has distinct forms for singular and plural, and the endings vary depending on gender and the declension class of the word. The system allows nouns, adjectives, and pronouns to agree in gender, number, and case throughout a noun phrase, ensuring clarity of meaning.

Words are grouped into declension classes based on their stem and gender. Nouns, adjectives, and numerals each follow patterns within these classes. Adjectives agree with the nouns they modify, and pronouns decline like corresponding nouns. Some classes are regular, with predictable endings, while others contain irregularities or exceptions, which learners and dictionaries help to navigate.

Deklinowanie is a typological feature of inflected languages and differs from other word-formation processes such as conjugation (verbs) or derivation (creating new words). Understanding declension is essential for correct grammar, accurate syntax, and fluent language use in Polish and related languages.