bezosobowe

Bezosobowe, in Polish linguistics, describes sentences that do not have an explicit grammatical subject. The term corresponds to the concept of an impersonal sentence, where the predicate conveys the action or state without naming an agent or actor.

Bezosobowe zdania can arise in several ways. They frequently occur with verbs and constructions that inherently lack a subject, such as weather or natural phenomenon expressions (for example, Pada deszcz, Jest zimno). They also appear in impersonal modal or evaluative constructions, such as Trzeba coś zrobić, or Jesteśmy to zobaczyć, where the subject is not specified. Another common pattern is the use of passive-impersonal forms with reflexive or passive markers, as in Mówi się, że... (It is said that...). Finally, some sentences rely on non-personal predications, including existential or general statements where the grammatical subject is not established.

In usage, bezosobowe sentences serve to present information in an objective or generalized way. They are common in journalism, scientific writing, and formal registers, where the focus is on the statement rather than on a particular doer. They can also soften assertions or remove agentive responsibility, which can be important in public discourse or instruction.

Etymology and terminology: the word bezosobowy combines bez- (without) and osoba (person), literally “without a person.” The form can function as an adjective (bezosobowy zdanie), a noun (bezosobowość), or be part of grammatical descriptions of impersonal syntax in Polish.

See also: impersonal construction, passive voice, Polish grammar, subjectless clauses.