zdany

Zdany is a Polish past passive participle and adjective formed from the verb zdać (to pass) or zda- variants. It is used to describe something that has been passed or completed, most commonly an examination, test, or course. In standard usage it can function both as a predicative adjective (egzamin został zdany) and as a modifier before a noun (zdany egzamin, zdana matura, zdane testy).

Morphology and usage: As an adjective it declines like a regular Polish adjective. The forms are: masculine singular zdany, feminine singular zdana, neuter singular zdane; masculine personal plural zdani, and the other plural forms also trend toward zdane. The sense is that the action of passing has been accomplished, typically by an agent expressed in the sentence (for example, ktoś zdał egzamin).

Examples and nuance: The phrase zdany egzamin literally means “an exam that has been passed,” but the more natural way to express a person’s achievement is with zdałem egzamin (I passed the exam) or zdał egzamin (he passed the exam). The passive form egzamın został zdany is used when focusing on the outcome of the exam itself rather than the actor. The form is also used with other assessments, such as zdana matura (the matura exam has been passed) or zdane testy (the tests have been passed).

See also: Polish grammar, past participles, zdać.