podajmy

Podajmy is a Polish verb form used to express a proposal or invitation to perform an action by the speaker and others. It is the first-person plural imperative (also described as the 1st person plural jussive) of the verb podać, meaning “to give” or “to pass.” The form is built from the stem podaj- with the suffix -my, yielding a meaning close to “let us give” or “let us pass.” It contrasts with podajemy, the present tense meaning “we give,” and with podamy, the future form meaning “we will give.”

Usage in Polish centers on collective action. Podajmy governs a direct object, and the action is proposed for the group to carry out together. It is appropriate in both spoken and written Polish, especially in contexts that involve cooperation, planning, or social interaction. In everyday speech, speakers might rely on other forms like Zróbmy or Wykonajmy to propose actions, but Podajmy remains a standard way to invite joint effort.

Examples:

- Podajmy sobie ręce. (Let us shake hands.)

- Podajmy sól do zupy. (Let us pass the salt to the soup.)

- Podajmy raport na jutro. (Let us submit the report by tomorrow.)

Notes:

- Podajmy should be used with a direct object or complement describing the proposed action.

- It expresses volition or a polite, collaborative tone and is less common in extremely formal writing, where more explicit modal or directive constructions might be preferred.

- It is distinct from other mood forms that express future or habitual actions.