potrafisz

Potrafisz is the second-person singular present form of the Polish verb potrafić, which means to be able to do something or to have the ability to perform a task. It is used with another verb in the infinitive to express capability, and it appears in everyday speech and writing.

Conjugation and usage: The present tense forms are: ja potrafię, ty potrafisz, on potrafi, my potrafimy, wy potraficie, oni potrafią. The form potrafisz specifically addresses a single informal “you.” For formal address, use Pan potrafi or Pani potrafi, and for the plural, Państwo potrafią or Potrafią Państwo. Potrafisz is typically followed by an infinitive (potrafisz mówić, potrafisz naprawić, potrafisz czytać) to express capability. It is common in questions and statements about skill, and negation is formed with nie: Nie potrafisz tego zrobić.

Nuance and usage notes: Potrafisz often conveys actual ability or learned skill rather than mere possibility. It can refer to practical competence in a task rather than theoretical potential. It is not a permanent attribute but rather a capability at the moment or generally. In questions or instructions, it can serve to evaluate or encourage someone’s abilities, as in “Czy potrafisz to zrobić?” or “Potrafisz sobie poradzić.”

Examples:

- Potrafisz mówić po angielsku? (Can you speak English?)

- Nie potrafisz jeszcze naprawić tego, ale dasz radę. (You can’t fix this yet, but you’ll manage.)

- Potrafi naprawić ten samochód. (He/She can fix this car.)