tematem

Tematem is the instrumental singular form of the Polish noun temat, which means "topic" or "subject." In usage, tematem marks the thing that is the topic of discussion, writing, or study in phrases where temat functions as an instrumental noun.

Grammatical role and usage: as the instrumental case, tematem appears after verbs and constructions that require the instrumental or in predicative constructions with być or stać się that describe the topic in focus. Examples include: "Tematem dzisiejszego eseju jest rozwój sztucznej inteligencji." "Główna myśl artykułu stała się tematem debaty." "Zajmować się tematem" is a common collocation meaning "to deal with the topic." In a full declension, tematem is the instrumental singular form; the plural instrumental is "tematami." The locative and other cases are used in different grammatical contexts, for example "o temacie" (about the topic).

Usage notes and contrasts: tematem often appears in journalism, scholarship, and education to pinpoint the focal point of discourse. It is distinct from "motyw" (motif or theme) and from adjectives like "tematyczny" (topic-related). The choice of instrumental versus other cases reflects syntactic function: after certain verbs or predicative constructions tematem is correct, while after prepositions like "o" or "na" the locative or other cases may be used.

Origin and related forms: tem at stems from the base temat and is used in standard Polish syntax to denote the object of discussion or analysis in a grammatical sense. The noun tem at has cognates in related languages through the historical exchange of scholarly and literary terms, often linked to the concept of a subject or theme.