How to Use "Być" in the Past Tense – Polish Made Easy!

Flashcards https://app.learn-polish.pl/flashcards/SB11ZJPzujHtJ6lgoPF0

Join live lesson https://app.learn-polish.pl/live-lessons 

Learn Polish in Poland https://www.learn-polish.pl 

In today's Polish lesson (intermediate level – more than basic, but not quite advanced), we focused on using the verb "być" (to be) in the past tense. 

Topics Covered:

• Conjugation of "być" in the past tense:

  • ja byłem/byłam

  • ty byłeś/byłaś

  • on był, ona była

  • my byliśmy, wy byliście, oni byli

• Examples of use in context:

  • Byłam w sklepie. (I was at the store.)

  • Byłem w restauracji. (I was at a restaurant.)

  • Byłam na koncercie. (I was at a concert.)

• Common Polish expressions to describe experiences:

  • Jak było? (How was it?)

  • Było fajnie. (It was nice.)

  • Szału nie było. (It wasn’t great / Nothing special.)

  • Nic nadzwyczajnego. (Nothing extraordinary.)

Cultural Insight:

We also touched on the expression "szału nie było", which is a colloquial way to say something was just okay or a bit disappointing – a very natural phrase in Polish daily conversation.

Logistics:

• Polish classes take place every Wednesday at 7 PM.

• Additional sessions: Monday with Agnieszka (advanced level), Tuesday with Adam (basic level) at 7 PM Polish class

• Students can also join in-person courses in Lębork, Poland – 1 or 2-week programs with 3 lessons per day, 5 days per week.