Najczęstsze błędy w “Polski Text” i как их избегатьWriting in a non-native language often brings repeated, predictable mistakes. Below is a comprehensive guide in English for the headline “Najczęstsze błędy w Polski Text i jak ich unikać” that explains common errors Polish speakers make when writing English (and when writing Polish texts with English influence), and gives practical strategies to avoid them.
1. False friends (false cognates)
Many Polish words resemble English words but have different meanings. Examples:
- Actual vs Polish “aktualny” (actual = real; aktualny = current).
- Sympathetic vs Polish “sympatyczny” (sympathetic = compassionate; sympatyczny = nice).
- Eventually vs Polish “ewentualnie” (eventually = in the end; ewentualnie = possibly).
How to avoid:
- Keep a personal list of false friends you encounter.
- Always check meanings in a reliable bilingual dictionary.
- When unsure, rephrase using simpler words.
2. Word order and sentence structure
Polish has flexible word order; English relies more on Subject–Verb–Object. Mistakes include placing adverbs, adjectives, or objects in unusual positions.
Examples:
- Incorrect: “I yesterday went to the store.”
Correct: “I went to the store yesterday.” - Incorrect: “He only speaks Polish.” (ambiguous — could mean “only he speaks Polish”)
Correct: “He speaks only Polish.” or “Only he speaks Polish.” depending on meaning.
How to avoid:
- Learn common English sentence patterns and practice transformation exercises.
- Read native texts and mimic sentence rhythms.
- Use grammar-check tools to flag odd order.
3. Articles (a, an, the) misuse
Polish lacks articles, so Polish speakers often omit them or use them incorrectly. Common issues:
- Omitting articles: “I saw movie.” → “I saw a movie.”
- Using “the” too broadly: “The life is hard.” → “Life is hard.”
How to avoid:
- Learn rules for general vs specific nouns (countable vs uncountable).
- Memorize frequent patterns: “go to school” vs “go to the school”.
- Practice with exercises focused on articles.
4. Prepositions errors
Prepositions in English don’t map directly to Polish equivalents; errors like “depend of” instead of “depend on” are common.
Examples:
- Incorrect: “She is good in singing.”
Correct: “She is good at singing.” - Incorrect: “I am married with Anna.”
Correct: “I am married to Anna.”
How to avoid:
- Learn verbs + preposition collocations (depend on, interested in).
- Use corpora or phrase lists; make flashcards of common combos.
- Read and note preposition usage in authentic texts.
5. Tenses and aspect
English uses multiple perfect and progressive tenses that have no direct Polish equivalents. Mistakes include using simple past where present perfect is needed.
Examples:
- Incorrect: “I have seen him yesterday.”
Correct: “I saw him yesterday.” or “I have seen him recently.” - Incorrect: “I am living here for five years.”
Correct: “I have lived here for five years.”
How to avoid:
- Study the functions of tenses (e.g., present perfect for past actions with present relevance).
- Practice with timeline exercises and contrastive drills (past simple vs present perfect).
- Pay attention to time expressions that require specific tenses (yesterday → past simple).
6. Direct translations and calques
Translating Polish phrases word-for-word leads to awkward or incorrect English.
Examples:
- Polish “robić zdjęcia” literally “make photos” → English: “take photos.”
- Polish “jakby” often translated as “like” or “as if” incorrectly in structure.
How to avoid:
- Learn common verbs and idioms in English rather than translating Polish idioms.
- Read native material and note idiomatic expressions.
- When unsure, search example sentences in reputable sources.
7. Pluralization and countability
Different rules about countable and uncountable nouns cause errors: “informations”, “advices”, “furnitures.”
How to avoid:
- Memorize uncountable nouns and their quantifiers (some information, much furniture).
- Practice with exercises and pay attention to articles and quantifiers.
8. Pronoun and agreement mistakes
Errors in subject-verb agreement or incorrect pronoun case (me vs I) appear frequently.
Examples:
- Incorrect: “Me and him went to the store.”
Correct: “He and I went to the store.” - Incorrect: “The team have won.” (British vs American differences: singular vs plural agreement)
Correct (US): “The team has won.” / Correct (UK acceptable): “The team have won.”
How to avoid:
- Learn subject-verb agreement rules; watch for collective nouns.
- Practice pronoun order: put other people before yourself (“She and I”).
9. Capitalization and punctuation differences
English capitalization rules (days, months, languages) differ from Polish. Punctuation marks usage (comma vs semicolon) may vary.
How to avoid:
- Keep a checklist of English capitalization rules.
- Use style guides (Oxford, APA) as references when writing formally.
- Use proofreading tools to flag capitalization/punctuation errors.
10. Register and formality
Using overly literal or direct translations can result in incorrect register — either too formal or too casual.
Examples:
- Polish polite forms may translate into overly formal English (“I would be grateful if you could inform me” vs more natural “Please let me know”).
- Using informal fillers from Polish can sound awkward.
How to avoid:
- Learn phrases appropriate to contexts (emails, academic writing, casual chat).
- Read native examples in the relevant register.
- When in doubt, prefer simpler, clear language.
Practical exercises to improve
- Error log: keep a notebook of recurring mistakes and correct forms.
- Shadowing: listen to native speech and repeat to internalize rhythm.
- Targeted drills: focus on one issue (articles, tenses) for a week.
- Peer review: exchange texts with native speakers or advanced learners.
- Use grammar-checkers (Grammarly, LanguageTool) but verify suggestions.
Quick checklist before submitting a text
- Articles: are they used correctly?
- Tenses: do time expressions match tense?
- Prepositions: are collocations correct?
- Word order: does the sentence follow SVO?
- False friends: any suspicious words?
- Register: tone appropriate to audience?
If you want, I can: correct a sample paragraph you provide, create targeted exercises for one error type, or produce a checklist printable. Which would you like?
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